School Playing Fields

HC Deb 10 December 1990 vol 182 cc291-2W

Mr. Pendry

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has to amend rule 909 to reduce the circumstances in which school playing fields may be sold.

Mr. Fallon

The Education (School Premises) Regulations 1981, Statutory Instrument No. 909, prescribe minimum standards for playing field provision at maintained schools. The forthcoming review of the school premises regulations will cover the appropriateness of these standards in the context of current and future educational practice, and of securing better use of school grounds.

Mr. Pendry

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his estimate of the number and size of school playing fields that have been sold in the past 11 years.

Mr. Fallon

The information needed to provide the estimate requested by the hon. Member is not available centrally.