§ Mr. ReedTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what action his Department is taking to encourage local education authorities to work with primary care trusts to improve delivery of sports and physical activity. [159949]
§ Mr. Stephen TwiggEncouraging local education authorities and primary care trusts to work together to support the improved delivery of sports and physical activity opportunities is central to the work of the Government's Activity Co-ordination Team. The Department for Education and Skills is a full and active member of this group and is responsible for developing the education strand.
In developing the education strand and in taking forward new action to support local education authorities and primary care trusts, we will seek to build and maximise the impact of:
the national PE, School Sport and Club Links Strategy;the 'Healthy Living Blueprint'—announced by the Secretary of State while speaking at the Institute of Public health last autumn. The blueprint will cover all areas of nutrition and how schools can make changes that will improve the health and lifestyle of their pupils;the National Healthy Schools Standard (NHSS)—a joint initiative between the Department for Education and Skills and the Department of Health where one of the key strands of the programme is physical activity.The Activity Co-ordination Team will publish proposals later this year.