Britain has 7,000 fewer PE teachers since London 2012 Olympics, MPs told

There were 41,000 fewer hours of PE taught in the last academic year compared to 2011-12. Photograph: Ben Birchall/PA

Britain has 7,000 fewer PE teachers than when London hosted the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics, MPs have been told, while 30% of children are now doing less than 30 minutes of any physical activity, including walking, a day.

The shocking figures were spelt out in the first session of the digital culture, media and sport committee’s inquiry into the challenges provision of sport for children and young people – and what can be done to arrest the decline in activity levels.