§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will estimate the possible effect of the elimination of claimed surplus places in maintained schools on sports facilities in general and on statutory or recommended minimum acreages of playing fields.
§ Mr. ForthThe Department is currently consulting local education authorities on the scope for removing surplus places, on the basis of its estimate that in 1991 there were up to 1.5 million surplus places in England. Decisions on the disposal of playing fields consequential upon school rationalisation are for LEAs.