HC Deb 11 May 2001 vol 368 c403W
Mr. Greenway

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the funding programmes for social inclusion for which his Department is responsible that can be accessed by(a) national sports bodies and (b) local clubs and communities. [161008]

Yvette Cooper

Funding can be accessed from the Department through the following routes:

(1) Health Action Zones (HAZs) are multi-agency partnerships between the National Health Service, local authorities (including social services), the voluntary and business sectors and local communities. Their aim is to tackle inequalities in health in the most deprived areas of the country through health and social care modernisation programmes. As well as tackling key priorities such as coronary heart disease, cancer and mental health, and issues such as teenage pregnancy and smoking cessation, they are addressing other interdependent and wider determinants of health, such as housing, education and employment, and linking with other initiatives. As part of their local involvement programmes, many HAZs run "Community Chest" schemes where they invite applications from the local community to bid for funds for specific local projects.

(2) The National Service Framework for coronary heart disease and health improvement programmes enable health authorities to work with local health economies on the development of local programmes on smoking, healthy eating, physical activity, overweight and obesity. These programmes will be accessible to national sport bodies, local clubs and communities. One element of local plans to promote physical activity may be exercise referral schemes. These schemes involve a general practitioner or practice nurse referring a patient to facilities such as leisure centres or gyms for a supervised exercise programme.

(3) Section 64 grants provide money to voluntary organisations running projects connected to public health and social care.