§ Mr. SpringTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make an assessment of the effectiveness of the Town and Country Planning (Playing Fields) (England) Direction 1998 in maintaining the number of school playing fields; and if he will estimate the number of school playing fields(a) which remain in use and (b) which were closed in each of the last five years. [70979]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe Town and Country Planning (Playing Fields) (England) Direction 1998 came into effect on 23 December last year. No planning applications have been determined by the Secretary of State as a result of referral under the Direction.
The remaining questions are matters for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, although I understand that his Department does not collect this information.