§ Mr. EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many school playing fields have been(a) sold and (b) acquired in each year since 1997. [141921]
§ Mr. Stephen TwiggSection 77 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 was introduced on 1 October 1998 to stop the indiscriminate sale of school playing fields that occurred in the 1980s and early to mid 1990s. Local authorities and governing bodies of all maintained schools now need the Secretary of State's consent before they can dispose of a playing field or any part of a playing field. Applications to sell school playing fields are only approved where it is clear that they meet the published criteria and, in particular, that any proceeds will be used to improve school sports provision or education facilities.
There are no central records of how many school playing fields were sold before October 1998. Between October 1998 and December 1998, the Government approved seven applications to sell school playing fields larger than a sports pitch; 42 applications were approved in 1999, 32 in 2000, 22 in 2001. 23 in 2002, and so far 10 have been approved in 2003.
There are no central records of how many school playing fields have been acquired.