§ Mr. HargreavesTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when she will be in a position to consult on the proposal contained in the Government's policy statement "Sport: Raising the Game" that the Sports Council should be given the status of a statutory consultee on planning proposals affecting playing fields. [9684]
§ Mr. SproatThe Government are seriously concerned at the loss of playing fields. We attach high priority to ensuring that people have access to a range of high quality sports facilities. There is a clear need to improve consultation between the Sports Council and local planning authorities whenever proposals for the development of playing fields arise. We are, therefore, issuing today, jointly with the Department of the Environment, a consultation paper on the proposal that the Sports Council should become a statutory consultee on planning proposals affecting all playing fields, not only those used by schools.