§ Mr. SpringTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his answer of 5 July 1999,Official Report, column 403, if he will list the sports bodies which suggested the number of school playing fields sold off between 1979 and 1998, as indicated in his answer. [90259]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe figure was originally derived from national surveys carried out by the Central Council of Physical Recreation. But our calculations, based on experience in the grant-maintained sector (which the Government monitored from 1988) suggest that the 5,000 figure could well be an under-estimate.
§ Mr. SpringTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his answer of 5 July 1999,Official Report, column 403, what information he has obtained from the National Playing Fields Association about the number of sales of school playing fields between 1979 and 1999. [90258]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeWe have received no information from the National Playing Fields Association about the number of sales of school playing fields between 1979 and 1999; however, we would be happy to consider any information which might be offered.
§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what statistics he has collated on the number of schools which have their own sports grounds. [90510]
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§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe Department does not currently collate statistics on the number of schools which have their own sports grounds. However, local education authorities are being encouraged to develop Asset Management Plans which will include comprehensive details of their school premises, including the number of playing fields for each school. These details will be collated by the Department.