The Government published its new Strategy for Sport just before Christmas.  It includes a section on outdoor recreation and focusses on physical activity not just participating in competitive sport.  See for yourself here;

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sporting-future-a-new-strategy-for-an-active-nation

The Sports and Recreational Alliance, of which BCA is a member, campaigned hard have the benefits of outdoor recreation recognised by government.  One of the S&RA policy advisor's gives her reflections here;

http://www.sportandrecreation.org.uk/blog/hannah-dobbin/17-12-2015/outdoor-recreation%E2%80%99s-place-government%E2%80%99s-strategy-active-nation

Got to be a good thing.

So, does that mean That caving IS an outdoor activity then?  :-\

It is an outdoor activity when outdoor activities are disrupted by severe weather !

Yes, unfortunately it's the old outdoor activity vs open air activity question. Which of course are the same thing, except when the verticality of the open air above said activity is rather too literally interpreted.