HC Deb 11 January 1993 vol 216 c540W
Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what information he has in regard to the number and areas of public sports fields that have been sold to the construction of buildings over the past two years.

Mr. Key

No such information is held centrally. That is why the Great Britain Sports Council's grant in aid settlement from the Government for 1991–92 included £500,000 to enable the establishment of a register of recreational land, in conjunction with the National Playing Fields Association, and Central Council for Physical Recreation. We will then, for the first time, know the number and size of playing fields in England. The register should be up and running by June 1993.

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Wales will be considering with the Welsh Sports Council whether the register of recreational land should be extended to Wales.