Written question asked by Jimmy Wray (Labour) on Wednesday, 1 May 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 15 May 2002. It was answered by Yvette Cooper (Labour) on Wednesday, 15 May 2002 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what measures the Government has taken to encourage people to walk more and use cars less for health reasons. (Folder in Library Dep 02/1649).

Answer: Mr. Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures the Government have taken to encourage people to walk more and use cars less for health reasons. [54792] Yvette Cooper: We support measures to encourage businesses, schools and other organisations to develop and implement travel plans that include measures designed to reduce car use and increase walking to and from particular sites. The national service framework (NSF) for coronary heart disease (CHD) contains a milestone that every local health community, as an employer, should develop "green" transport plans. To assist national health service bodies in developing a travel plan, the Department has funded four regional seminars for NHS staff, and the production of a travel plan newsletter. Local strategies on increasing physical activity, including walking, are also being developed as part of the NSF CHD. In January 2002 the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR), in association with this Department, published "Walk in to Work Out", a pack which provides practical assistance on how to give people more choice about walking and cycling to work. A copy of this pack has been placed in the Library. DTLR intends to publish a national walking strategy later this year which will cover the health benefits of walking. These benefits will also be featured in a series of regional seminars this summer for local authority walking officers, businesses and other interest groups.

Secondary information