The Department has an important role in promoting the benefits of physical activity for all as set out in the Chief Medical Officers report “At least five a week: Evidence on the impact of physical activity and its relationship to health”. We have worked closely with other Departments, including the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Department for Children, Families and Schools and the Department for Transport to deliver the existing strategy for physical activity set out in “Choosing Activity: a physical activity action plan”.
The Local Exercise Action Pilots, which took place across the English regions between 2003 and 2005, demonstrated that community-based interventions can be effective in promoting physical activity in older people. More recently, the Hull Swim for Health and three of the Everyday Swim pilots are evaluating the promotion of swimming when targeted towards older age groups.
We have also made £60 million ring-fenced funding (£20 million in 2006-07 and £40 million in 2007-08) available to approximately 30 council-led partnerships across the country as part of Partnerships for Older People Projects to evaluate innovative approaches to help older people to live healthy, independent and fulfilling lives for as long as possible.
HM Treasury has asked my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to develop a new strategy for Sport England. Ministers have also agreed to work closely over the next few months to ensure that all relevant Departments are working together to deliver a physical activity strategy for all. Any changes in responsibilities for policy on physical activity, including the promotion of physical activity to older people, would emerge from this work.