HC Deb 15 October 2002 vol 390 cc619-20W
Mr. Gardiner

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what studies her Department has made of the links between physical activity and improved health. [73814]

Mr. Caborn

My Department has not commissioned any studies of the links between physical activity and improved health.

I regularly have discussions with my hon. Friend the Minister for Public Health on a wide range of issues related to sport policy, including the relationship of sport and health. It is agreed that the promotion of sport plays a valuable role and my Department has been working closely with the Department of Health to ensure co-ordination of sport and health policy.

Mr. Gardiner

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what measures her Department has considered recently to increase participation in physical activity amongst adults. [73816]

Mr. Caborn

The Government's Plan for Sport sets out the importance of engaging and motivating a wide range of organisations to develop new initiatives, strategies, projects and schemes that will offer more opportunities for participation for adults and the whole community,

In addition the New Opportunities Fund PE and School Sport programme is investing £581 million in England towards school sports facilities, £25 million of which will go towards the Space for Sport and Arts initiative, a £130 million investment to create more than 300 multi-use facilities in primary schools. All facilities will be made available for use by the whole community.

DCMS has also been a allocated £20 million for 2003–04 from the Capital Modernisation Fund which will be distributed to both provide new facilities and improve existing facilities.

Mr. Gardiner

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what role her Department plans for(a) the private sector and (b) voluntary sports clubs in improving public health. [73815]

Mr. Caborn

The Department and the Department for Education and Skills, supported by the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit, are working on a project to effect improvements to PE and School Sport and build stronger school/club links so young people can carry on playing sport when they leave school.

The Strategy Unit is also looking closely into this issue as part of their overall review of the structure of sport.

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