§ Baroness Anelay of St Johnsasked Her Majesty's Government:
What measures they are taking to promote physical activity among older people; and what funding has been made available for this purpose. [HL3749]
38WA
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath)Standard eight of the National Service Framework for Older People requires the NHS to develop a co-ordinated programme of action to promote the health and well-being of older people, including action to promote exercise. Local programmes to promote physical activity are already being developed as part of the National Service Framework for Coronary Heart Disease.
39WATo support the development of these programmes, the Department of Health published a National Quality Assurance Framework for exercise referral systems in April 2001. This document offers guidance to primary care and fitness professionals, who work together to offer tailored exercise and physical activity programmes to patients whose health would benefit from increased exercise, including older people.
The National Lottery policy directions issued by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport require distributors to take into account the promotion of access to sport for people from all sections of society. Older people are a priority for funding in many of the lottery funding streams in place. So far £1.3 billion of lottery funding in England has been distributed to 3431 projects since its inception. In addition, lottery funding of £232.5 million has been allocated to develop a network of Healthy Living Centres across England. The New Opportunities Fund has so far approved and announced 113 Healthy Living Centres in England (correct at 17/04/02) and a number of these are targeting older people, and offer exercise and fitness programmes as part of their activities.