HC Deb 17 July 2002 vol 389 cc432-4W
Mr. Heald

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the role of sport in tackling obesity. [67996]

Ms Blears

(pursuant to her reply 8 July 2002,Official Report, 783W): I regret that my previous reply was incorrect. It should read:

Increasing 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 PE 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 be based in neighbourhood renewal areas and three will also involve Sport Action Zones.