To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many applications his Department has received from local authorities to sell school playing fields since the School Standards and Framework Act 1998; and how many such applications have been (a) refused and (b) approved. (104070)

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 now need the Secretary of State’s consent before they can dispose of a playing field or any part of a playing field.

Since October 1998, the Department has received 190 applications from local authorities to sell an area of school playing field capable of being used for at least a small sports pitch. Of these, two have been rejected and 142 approved. Of the remainder, 38 have been withdrawn and eight are still to be determined.