The coalition government has dropped a pledge made by its predecessor to increase general physical activity among the population despite the aims of its public health white paper.

In an interview published in the Guardian newspaper, Olympics secretary Jeremy Hunt admitted that targets on exercise and sport created by the previous Labour government as a response to winning the bid to host the 2012 Olympics in London, have been dropped or are uncertain to continue.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport, however, has stressed that it is looking at better ways to encourage more participation in sport and exercise.

Mr Hunt said the pledge—promising to get a million more people …