§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what progress has been made on discussing Sports Council funding for the national children's play and recreation unit; and what measures will be implemented to fund children's play after March 1993 pending the completion of these tasks.
§ Mr. Brooke[pursuant to his reply 28 January 1993, Official Report, column 853]: The Sports Council has now taken over the national play information centre and the play unit's work on playwork education and training along with seven of the unit's staff. An eighth officer will be employed on a consultancy basis. The Council's budget for play for 1993–94 is £300,000, which includes financial support for the four national centres for playwork education. In addition, the Sports Council's trust company has agreed to give a grant of £25,000 to the National Voluntary Council for Children's Play. I am delighted with these decisions which show the serious way in which the Sports Council is tackling its new responsibilities.