§ Mr. HealdTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the role of sport in tackling obesity. [67996]
§ Ms BlearsIncreasing participation in sport has a role to play in raising the rates of physical activity. Low rates of physical activity together with an unhealthy diet contribute to increased rates of obesity. Major cross-Government work has been put in place to raise the level of physical activity, and participation in sport. This includes: £581 million from the new opportunities fund for a physical education and sports programme; the national active sports programme and the Department's recently announced £2.5 million programme of community physical activity pilots, which will test out different community approaches to increasing physical activity. All pilots will involve sport action zones.