§ Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many school sports grounds have been sold in each London borough since 1997. [159169]
§ Mr. MilibandI have been asked to reply.
There are no figures available until October 1998 when we introduced new legislation to stop the indiscriminate sell off of school playing fields. Before October 1998, there was nothing to prevent a local authority selling a school playing field if it wanted to. Local authorities and schools now must obtain the written consent of the Secretary of State before disposing, or changing the use, of school playing fields. Applications to sell school playing fields are approved only where it is clear that any proceeds will be used to improve school sports provision or education facilities.
The following table shows the number of approved applications from London boroughs to sell areas of school playing field capable of forming at least a small sports pitch.
1389W
London boroughs 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Barking and Dagenham — — — — — — Barnet — — 1 — — — Bexley — — — — — — Brent — — — — — — Bromley — — — — — — Camden — — 1 — 1 — City of London — — — — — — Croydon — 1 — — — — Ealing — — 1 — — — Enfield — 1 — — — —
London boroughs 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Greenwich — — — — — — Hackney — — — — — — Hammersmith and Fulham — 1 — — 1 — Haringey — — — — — — Harrow — — — — — — Havering — — 1 — — — Hillingdon — — — — — — Hounslow — — — — — — Islington — — — — — — Kensington and Chelsea — — — — — — Kingston upon Thames — — — — — — Lambeth — — — — — — Lewisham — — — — — — Merton — — — — — — Newham — — — — — — Redbridge — — — — — — Richmond upon Thames — — — — — — Southwark — — — — — — Sutton — — — — — — Tower Hamlets — — — — — — Waltham Forest — — — — — — Wandsworth — — — — — — Westminster — — — — — — Notes: 1. A 'school sports pitch' is an area of playing field that has the shape and topography to form at least a sports pitch of 2,000m2. 2. The table includes playing fields that have been used as school sports pitches within the 10 years before the application was made. 3. There were no figures collected before October 1998. 4. The table reflects applications made by each authority. The playing field that was the subject of the application need not be in the same borough as that making the application.