Local MP, David Rutley, has led an important debate in Parliament, about the health and economic benefits of outdoor recreation.
The debate in Westminster Hall was well attended, by over 25 MPs from six different parties, providing a dynamic and constructive session. Also in attendance was the Minister for Sport, Tracey Crouch MP, who was warmly supportive of the aims proposed by David.
Outdoor recreation helps improve physical health and mental wellbeing, and it also drives much of the domestic leisure and tourism economy. With the consultation on Sports Strategy having just been concluded, and with the Spending Review underway, the time is ripe to debate outdoor recreation and the economic value it generates.
Speaking during the debate, David told the Minister, “We now need a fundamental shift in social attitudes to being active so that it is more usual to take part and be physically active than to not participate. We need to interpret sport in the widest sense of outdoor active participation and recreation”.
Macclesfield’s MP asked the Minister for outdoor recreation to receive the utmost consideration from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport as it weighs up the submissions to the consultation on the Sports Strategy, and for outdoor recreation to be fully integrated into the strategy when it is finalised. He also urged the Minister to take a cross-departmental approach to outdoor recreation to get more people out into our “green and pleasant gym”.
David has been an active supporter of outdoor recreation since his election to Parliament in 2010. As the co-chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Mountaineering, he has spoken on numerous occasions of the benefits of outdoor recreation, and the need for it to be integrated into the national strategy for sport.
In response to the debate, the Sports Minister said, ““The potential for outdoor recreation is massive. I will publish the sport and physical activity strategy for the country by the end of the year… We are at a unique moment in time, and it is important that all Departments join together to recognise the importance of sport and physical activity to everyone.”
Speaking following the debate, David said, “I was delighted with the strong cross party turnout at this debate, which demonstrates the clear strength of support for outdoor recreation. The burden that inactivity is placing on limited health resources is unsustainable. We also need to interpret ‘sport’ in the widest sense of active recreation. Because, while reluctant to put on, say, a pair of football boots, some 20 million people do say they would like to participate in outdoor recreation of some kind. I look forward to continuing to work with the Sports Minister to drive this important agenda forward.”