Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effect of the walk to school programme on (a) children's health and (b) reducing traffic congestion.

The Walk to School programme funded by the Local Sustainable Transport Fund achieved significant modal shift: in primary schools the number of pupils walking all or part of the way to school increased by 23% and the number being driven all the way decreased by 30%. In secondary schools the number of pupils walking increased by 12%. These new walking journeys, many of which were converted from car, resulted in considerable transport and health benefits.