Written question asked by Lord Grayling (Conservative) on Friday, 12 September 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 6 October 2003. It was answered by Melanie Johnson (Labour) on Monday, 6 October 2003 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, where the Local Exercise Action Programme pilots are to take place; how his Department will measure the effectiveness of the LEAP pilots; and who will be eligible to participate in the LEAP pilots.

Answer: Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health where the Local Exercise Action Pilots are to take place; how his Department will measure the effectiveness of the LEAP pilots; and who will be eligible to participate in the LEAP pilots. [130113] Miss Melanie Johnson: Local Exercise Action Pilots (LEAP) will test out different community approaches to increasing levels of and access to physical activity. They will help to establish the evidence base on what works, and support the delivery of milestones in the national service frameworks and priorities and planning framework. The on-going results will inform and lead action on physical activity across the national health service. The LEAP pilots are based in based in primary care trusts (PCT) at: Durham Dales PCT; Hastings and St. Leonards PCT; Great Yarmouth PCT; North Kirklees PCT; Wandsworth PCT; Dudley Beacon and Castle PCT; Ashton, Leigh and Wigan PCT; Nottingham City PCT; and West of Cornwall PCT. Eligibility to participate in the pilots depends on the specific groups to be targeted by each pilot. All pilot sites are in neighbourhood renewal areas and up to three are also in sport action zones. The pilots focus on high risk and disadvantaged groups. We will be measuring both the effectiveness of the direct interventions in the pilots and the extent to which the physical activity messages in those pilots that are community wide have impacted at a community level.

Secondary information