Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the role that physical education and school sport can play in promoting mental wellbeing among children and young people.

Physical activity is important in promoting children and young people’s mental wellbeing and there are strong links between physical activity and increased self-esteem, emotional wellbeing and future aspirations. Physical activity is also associated with lower levels of anxiety and depression. This was highlighted in the Government’s 2019 School Sport and Activity Action Plan which the Department for Health and Social Care developed with the Department for Education and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.