5. Debate on the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee Report: Physical Activity of Children and Young People

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:47 pm on 12 June 2019.

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Photo of Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas Independent 4:47, 12 June 2019

(Translated)

Well, what we've moved away from as Government now is the concept that a national curriculum should be imposed on schools, rather that the educational experience that is enjoyed within schools should develop within those schools, and we are seeking to place all of this in the context of the policies that have been developed across Government.

For example, the 'Healthy Weight: Healthy Wales' strategy that will be published by the health Minister in October will put in place a new framework to secure progress on the commitment to physical activity across Wales. There will be an opportunity for us soon, before the end of this year, to see the outcome of the collaboration between Sport Wales, Public Health Wales and NRW—that physical activity partnership for Wales that brings all of these issues together. The use that has been made of the healthy and active fund has already generated a response, and there will be an announcement tomorrow on many of the schemes to be supported within that fund.

Therefore, the shift that's important for us is that we respond to the challenges that we face through the new guidance from the chief medical officer, which I referred to, which will be published in the summer, but also through the activity that will increase at a community level, when schools look at the challenge that we pose for them. I accept—and this is the final point that I will make—that there is a grave challenge here, but I want to say that we're not going to resolve it through evangelising by individuals, but by working on a community level within our schools.