Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of any differential in the level of exercise by girls and boys on the number of each gender who pursue sporting careers.

Government wants everyone, regardless of their background to feel able to participate, engage and work in the sport and physical activity sector.

The Active Lives Children and Young People Survey shows that there remains a significant gender gap in physical activity levels for boys and girls, and that girls are less likely to enjoy or feel confident about participating in sport and physical activity. We are working with the Department for Education and the Department of Health and Social Care to address this through the School Sport and Activity Action Plan.

Government is also working closely with Sport England to ensure that the sporting workforce is strong, dynamic and representative of the wider population.