Extract from Oral
answer (Lords) on Childhood Obesity: Yoga
(Lab): My Lords, I am grateful for the noble Lord’s
observation. Is he aware that the largest NGO in India, the Kripa
Foundation, uses yoga as a means of attracting young drug
addicts, drunks and people with HIV into recovery? Given the
success there and the problems we have with our current obesity
plan, which fails to get into the heads of young people—we have
great difficulty in making connections so that they can become
more self-aware about the need to take responsibility for their
own health—might we explore methods such as yoga with them? It
might be a means whereby they could take a closer look at
themselves, their problems and the opportunities they have to
make a better life in the future.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of
Health and Social Care (Lord O’Shaughnessy) (Con): I am
not aware of the charity that the noble Lord mentioned, although
after university I spent six months in India as a teacher. The
school I taught in practised yoga with its children and it seemed
to have a calming effect on them—which is just as well, because I
am not sure my teaching skills had such an effect. I am sure many
noble Lords know personally the benefits of yoga. It has not been
proven to have any impact on obesity, although it has many other
benefits, as the noble Lord pointed out. It is something that
schools can and do use as part of their repertoire in the PE
curriculum to provide exercise for children, although it does not
count towards the moderate and higher levels of activity demanded
by the PE curriculum.
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Extract from Digital,
Culture, Media and Sport questions
(Taunton Deane) (Con):
It is great to hear so many references to cricket this morning. I
am sure that you, Mr Speaker, and the Secretary of State are well
aware that the cricket world cup will come to England next year.
It will include games between New Zealand and Afghanistan and
between Australia and Pakistan, at the glorious county ground in
Somerset—in Taunton, indeed. What steps is the Department taking
to ensure that the event will attract the maximum number of
international visitors, as well as home visitors, including,
perhaps, the Secretary of State himself?
The Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and
Sport (Matt Hancock): It is almost as if my hon. Friend
had some connection with Taunton. [Laughter.] She certainly
speaks well for it.
We are absolutely determined that when the cricket world cup
comes to this nation next year we will gain the full benefit,
including all the business people who will come here. I went to
India with the world cup trophy itself to encourage Indian tour
operators to send as many people as possible from that fine
nation to this country, and that includes Taunton.
