§ Mr. Peter AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to enhance the protection and preservation of(a) school and (b) community sports and recreation facilities. [139]
§ Tessa Jowell[holding answer 25 June 2001]: We are determined to build on our success in protecting playing fields and improve the playing field infrastructure for both schools and communities. £750 million from the New Opportunities Fund (NOF) will bring about a step change in opportunities for young people to play sport, through new and refurbished school sports facilities, including playing fields, which will be available for community use, throughout the country. NOF has selected Sport England as an Award Partner to deliver an additional £31 million of Lottery money to projects in England for the creation of playing fields and community spaces, as part of NOF's Green Spaces Initiative. My Department will encourage organisations funding green spaces to prioritise their funding allocations in line with local playing field strategies where they are available.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (DfES) recently issued strengthened Guidance for the Protection of School Playing Fields and Land for City Academies. The new guidance: introduces the role that the new School Playing Field Advisory Panel will play in advising on applications to dispose or change the use of school playing fields and the new criteria under which those applications will be assessed; gives more protection to playing fields provided for pupils under eight; and ensures that any proceeds arising from the sale of playing fields at operating schools are ploughed back into providing outdoor sport or recreational facilities.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions is currently considering the responses to his consultation on a revised draft of Planning Policy Guidance Note 17 on Sport, Open Spaces and Recreation. My Department is working closely with the DTLR to ensure that the new PPG 17 is robust in strengthening and extending our protection of school and community playing fields, and assists local authorities in planning constructively for sport and recreation for the future.