Mr. Rostron Duckworthasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education what sum it is proposed to spend during the coming financial year on the provision of additional playing fields in elementary and secondary schools; and how many of such schools are now without grass playing fields of any kind?
Mr. LindsayThe Board have before them at the present time proposals for the acquisition of 126 sites, either for separate playing fields for the use of public elementary school children or for playing fields attached to individual public elementary schools, at an estimated cost of £500,000. The Board are continually receiving such proposals, and it is impossible to estimate the amount of expenditure likely to be incurred during 1938. I am unable to give the number of schools which have no provision for grass playing fields, as in many districts provision is made by means of central playing fields for groups of schools. As regards secondary schools, it is estimated that the cost of acquiring additional playing fields in the coming financial year will be approximately £300,000. All except eight secondary schools either possess or have the user of grass playing fields.