The Government are refreshing the sport strategy at the moment. Noble Lords who took part in debates on the Health and Care Bill will remember that we talked about the cross-government approach to sport and physical activity. We are looking at a number of initiatives for improving it. We welcome reports such as this, as they highlight the areas that we need to focus our efforts on as we work out what has worked in the past and what we need to improve. We hope to fill those gaps where they exist.

Since 2012, over 400 young people have been engaged in projects which are part of 'Get on Track'—a targeted Sport England-funded programme working with young offenders and those at risk of offending. Monitoring and evaluation conducted since April 2012 show that of those young people who completed the programme:

After three months:

78% were taking part regularly in sport; and

70% were in education, employment and/or training (EET).

After six months:

75% were taking part regularly in sport; and

81% were in EET.

After one year:

94% were taking part regularly in sport.¹

We do not hold any information on crime rates.¹ Figures are not yet available for the percentage of this group in EET.

Sport England is investing £62.9 million in two projects, which work directly with young offenders and young offenders institutions between 2011 and 2017. Through Sportivate, £56 million of lottery funding is being invested over the period 2011-17. As part of this investment, Sportivate has delivered around 20 projects for young offenders, working with both probation services and directly with young offenders’ institutions. Through Get on Track, Sport England is investing £6.9 million of lottery funding over the period 2012-17. Around 10% of the young people engaged in Get On Track have had criminal convictions. Youth offending teams are key local partners in all areas where Get On Track projects are delivered.

In November 2012, the Department initiated a call for research proposals on physical activity. The scope of the research initiative covers research relating to physical activity among young people. It is anticipated that awards will be made in July 2013.

Since May 2010 the Department has contributed to the following which produce information on sport and physical activity among young people:

The Health Survey for England carried out in 2012 included a Department-funded module which collected information on physical activity (including sport) for adults, children and young people. Results are due at the end of 2013.

The Department contributes to the Active People Survey which is run by Sports England. It includes collection of data on sports and physical activity for people aged 16 and over. Survey questions have recently been amended to include a wider range of physical activity, specifically dance and gardening. Sports England has extended the survey to 14 and 15-year-olds and data collection started in July 2012.

The Health Behaviours in School-aged Children in England 2010 study, which was Department funded, collected information on physical activity, including sport. The Department is committed to co-funding the next study to be carried out in 2014 which is expected to again cover physical activity.

The Department's Lifecourse Tracker collects information on health behaviours, including physical activity, from adults and young people (aged 11 to 17 years). The first wave of this survey was carried out in March 2012 and the second in September 2012.

The Department has not terminated any research or data collection on sports and physical activity among young people since May 2010.