To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment in what form the Government plans to replace DES Circular 909 in order to stop encouraging schools from selling their playing fields. [6080]

The Education (School Premises) Regulations 1981 were replaced last year by the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1996, which set out minimum areas of grassed playing field for all schools with pupils over 8 years old.We intend to make sure that those playing fields which schools and their local communities need are not sold in future.My right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Education and Employment and the Secretary of State for the National Heritage are discussing this as a matter of urgency. We are looking at a wide range of options to ensure that all school pupils will have access to proper sports facilities.