HC Deb 17 December 1974 vol 883 cc426-7W
Mr. Freud

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether grant aid is available to local authorities to assist in the provision of play facilities in areas of housing stress and deprivation similar to that provided for this purpose adjacent to tower block flats;

(2) what is the total amount of Government grant available to local authorities to assist in the provision of play facilities for residents of tower flats.

Mr. Kaufman

Money is available from various sources to assist in the provision of play facilities of various kinds and no overall limit has been set. This assistance is not confined to areas adjacent to tower block flats.

Mr. Freud

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities have applications before his Department for grant aid to assist in the provision of play facilities adjacent to tower block flats.

Mr. Kaufman

Applications for grant aid under current urban programme Circulars Nos. 11 and 12 are being considered, but those relating to play do not necessarily specify whether the site is adjacent to tower block flats.

Mr. Steen

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether he will list the local authorities which have already applied in the last three years for grants for adventure playgrounds and pre-school playgroup activity on land in the proximity of high-rise blocks situated on council estates;

(2) what sums of money have been made available for the last five years for the provision of adventure playgrounds and pre-school playgroup activity on land in the proximity of high-rise blocks situated on council estates;

(3) what steps he has taken to publicise the fact that the Department has funds available for the purposes of providing adventure playgrounds and pre-school playgroup activity on land in the proximity of high-rise blocks situated on council estates.

Mr. Freud

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many local authority applications have been approved and how many have been rejected in respect of requests for grant aid towards the provision of play facilities adjacent to tower block flats in each of the last three years;

(2) what is the maximum and average grant made available in each of the past three years to assist local authorities in the provision of play facilities adjacent to tower block flats.

Mr. Kaufman

Applications are made by local authorities in response to periodic Home Office circulars for grant aid under the urban programme on a wide range of projects, including adventure playgrounds and pre-school playgroup activity. It is not possible to say which projects, applied for or approved, relate to land in the proximity of high-rise blocks situated on council estates. Subsidy can be obtained by any local authority wishing to provide play space on new or existing housing estates to the extent that it does not exceed the standards set out in my Department's Circular 79/72. This has been publicised during the recent debates in the House and elsewhere.

Over the past three years grants totalling more than £200,000 have been approved by the Department of Health and Social Security for payment to voluntary organisations, including the Pre-school Playgroups Association, Save the Children Fund and the Women's Royal Voluntary Service, providing playgroups in areas of need.