§ Mr. Michael Morrisasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance is given by his Department to local authorities about the minimum acreage of playing fields for primary, middle and upper schools.
§ Mr. DunnI have been asked to reply.
The sale of surplus playing fields is a matter for individual local education authorities. The Department's circular 2/81 "Falling Rolls and Surplus Places" showed how rationalisation of school provision in the light of falling rolls could involve the sale of surplus schools and land, and how the capital receipts could be used to finance improvements to school buildings and playing fields.
The Department's design note No. 36 presented a case study of an area of north-east Wiltshire aimed at rationalising playing field provision, examining possible savings and opportunities for alternative use.