{"id":20178,"date":"2023-11-23T10:10:49","date_gmt":"2023-11-23T10:10:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ukactive.com\/news\/growth-depends-on-health-sport-recreation-and-physical-activity-sector-responds-to-autumn-statement-2023\/"},"modified":"2023-11-23T10:10:49","modified_gmt":"2023-11-23T10:10:49","slug":"growth-depends-on-health-sport-recreation-and-physical-activity-sector-responds-to-autumn-statement-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ukactive.com\/cy\/news\/growth-depends-on-health-sport-recreation-and-physical-activity-sector-responds-to-autumn-statement-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Growth depends on health\u2019: Sport, recreation and physical activity sector responds to Autumn Statement 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"

The National Sector Partners Group (NSPG) cautiously welcomes the Chancellor\u2019s announcements at yesterday\u2019s Autumn Statement, which seeks to prioritise the country\u2019s economic growth.<\/p>\n

The Chancellor wants his Autumn Statement to be the catalyst for driving economic growth and productivity in the UK, and fundamental to this ambition is improving our national health, especially for people of working age.<\/p>\n

While there remains an absence from the Government of a comprehensive public health strategy covering all ages and backgrounds to address our nation\u2019s poor health, the Autumn Statement contains several announcements that could support the growth and development of parts of our sector, particularly the Back to Work Plan, Levelling Up funding, and reducing taxes for the self-employed.<\/p>\n

Improving economic growth depends on increasing the nation\u2019s productivity and to do that we need to prioritise a healthier society. The number of people unemployed due to a health condition is 2.6 million, up by half a million (almost 25 per cent) since the pandemic.<\/p>\n

The role of the sport, recreation and physical activity sector in powering economic growth was recognised in the Government\u2019s \u2018Get Active\u2019 strategy, which committed to working closely with the sector to explore new ways to boost activity levels.<\/p>\n

It is time to back the sector fully to deliver on the Government\u2019s ambitions for physical activity, and to truly make this an Autumn Statement for growth.<\/p>\n

Meddai Huw Edwards, Prif Weithredwr ukactive: <\/strong>\u201cWe welcome the Chancellor\u2019s announcement on extending business rates support, which comes after intense lobbying<\/a> \u00a0from ukactive and partners, as well as funding to help people with long-term conditions back into employment.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur members continue to face high operating costs, as set out in our latest evidence<\/a>, so continued support from the Government remains crucial for the protection of public services.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe await further details on how the measures in the Statement relate to our sector, including how the Back to Work Plan utilises gyms, pools and leisure centres, and how stimulating demand for these services can create the healthy workforce to deliver on the Government\u2019s ambitions for economic growth and reducing the burden on the NHS.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs the NSPG outlined earlier this year, there is huge potential for the sector to support Government ambitions to make the UK healthier and more productive.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe sector is now calling for the Government to realise the potential of physical activity and engage with our organisations on a cross-departmental level to make the most of this opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more about ukactive\u2019s most recent lobbying work in our News section<\/strong>, <\/strong> yma<\/strong><\/a> ac <\/strong> yma<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

About the National Sector Partners Group<\/strong><\/p>\n

This release is issued on behalf of a coalition of lead representative bodies from across the sport, recreation and physical activity sectors:<\/p>\n