§ Baroness Blatchasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many applications have been received to sell off school playing fields in (a) 1997–98; (b) 1998–99; (c) 1999–2000; and (d) 2000–01; and how many applications in each of those years have been agreed. [HL1443]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education and Skills (Baroness Ashton of Upholland)Before October 1998 there was nothing to prevent a local authority selling a school playing field if it wanted to. Section 77 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 was introduced in October 1998 to stop the indiscriminate sale of school playing fields. Local authorities and governing bodies of all maintained schools are now required to obtain the Secretary of State's consent before disposing of playing fields or any part of a playing field.
Applications to sell school playing fields are approved only where it is clear that any proceeds will be used to improve or enhance school sports provision or education facilities. All applications made since mid-July this year are scrutinised by the Independent School Playing Fields Advisory Panel to make sure that they conform to published criteria. The panel comprises representatives from the National Playing Fields Association, the Central Council of Physical Recreation, the education organisation Learning through Landscapes, the National Association of Head Teachers and the Local Government Association.
15WAThe table below sets out details of applications to sell off areas equal to, or larger than, a sports pitch.
Year Received Approved Rejected Not yet Determined 1997–98 3 3 — — 1998–99 49 44 2 3 1999–00 29 27 — 2 2000–01 29 25 — 4 As we publish the criteria against which applications to sell school playing fields are assessed, local authorities and governing bodies do not bring forward applications which they consider do not meet the criteria.
Notes:
1. The table includes applications to dispose of school playing fields from local authorities, foundation, voluntary and former grant maintained schools.
2. All sale proceeds are used to provide new or improved sports or education facilities at maintained schools.
3. "Sports pitch" means an area of open grassed land which is equal to, or larger than, the Football Association's recommended 2,000m2 area for games played by under-10s and which has a configuration making it suitable for sports, whether laid out as a sports pitch or not.