§ Mr. CummingsTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement concerning the sale of school playing fields by local education authorities; and what plans he has to change present policy. [2145]
§ Mr. Alan CampbellTo aks the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to change Government policy regarding the sale of school playing fields. [3621]
§ Mr. ByersWe intend to make sure that those playing fields which schools and their local communities need are not sold in future.
My right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Education and Employment and the Secretary of State for National Heritage are discussing this as a matter of urgency. We are looking at a wide range of options to ensure that all school pupils will have access to proper sports facilities.
§ Mr. CummingsTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many acres of playing fields and at what locations have been sold over the last 10 years by the Durham local education authority. [2462]
§ Mr. ByersLocal education authorities are not required to report their disposals of playing fields to Central Government.
454W
LEA 1991£92 imports 11 to 15 Imports as percentage of pupils Per cent. 1993£94 imports 11 to 15 Imports as percentage of pupils Per cent. 1996£97 imports 11 to 15 Imports as percentage of pupils Per cent. City 0 0 4 50 7 88 Camden 4,423 52 4,453 50 4,460 50 Greenwich 2,074 16 2,292 18 2,094 17 Hackney 1,258 17 1,075 14 991 13 Hammersmith 2,714 48 2,702 47 2,590 48 Islington 1,863 28 2,371 34 2,440 33 Kensington 1,893 68 1,562 56 1,980 68 Lambeth 1,375 21 1,226 17 1,276 18 Lewisham 2,305 24 2,016 20 1,957 19 Southwark 2,548 28 2,544 28 2,379 25 Tower Hamlets 1,080 10 785 7 784 6 Wandsworth 2,467 30 2,550 30 2,481 28 Westminster 3,321 53 3,670 57 3,606 54 Barking 741 9 969 11 933 10 Barnet 3,052 20 3,887 24 4,020 24 Bexley 1,016 8 1,474 11 1,349 10 Brent 551 6 1,162 11 1,188 10 Bromley 903 7 2,006 13 2,105 13 Croydon 1,501 11 1,470 10 1,835 12 Ealing 627 5 824 7 822 6 Enfield 1,186 8 2,133 14 2,192 14 Haringey 918 12 1,305 16 1,358 15 Harrow 770 8 1,384 13 1,295 12 Havering 1,003 7 1,127 8 1,201 9 Hillingdon 562 5 840 7 919 7 Hounslow 1,956 17 3,016 24 3,015 23 Kingston 1,002 16 1,498 22 1,558 23 Merton 1,026 14 1,338 18 1,382 18 Newham 687 5 511 4 539 4 Redbridge 854 7 1,340 10 1,356 10 Richmond 2,434 34 3,120 40 3,233 42 Sutton 1,549 17 1,921 20 1,791 17 Waltham Forest 318 3 485 4 493 4 Provided that their schools continue to comply with the requirements for minimum playing field area in the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1996, local education authorities may dispose of land belonging to them without reference to the Secretary of State. However, before considering any land as surplus, local authorities should consider carefully both future demand, from projected pupil numbers, and the needs of the wider communities that their schools serve.
As my hon. Friend is aware, the Sports Council has established a register of recreational land and the Government is considering how best to tackle the whole question of playing fields and sports provision for schools as a matter of urgency.