To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much revenue has accrued from the sale of school playing fields since May 1997; and what area of such fields has been sold in Leeds West constituency in that period. (306591)

Legislation was introduced on 1 October 1998, under section 77 of the School Standards and Framework Act, to stop the indiscriminate sale of school playing fields. We do not hold records of how many were sold before this date but we do know that there was growing public concern about the number being lost. Since 1 October 1998 no school playing field has been sold to raise revenue funding.

A sale is only allowed if the playing field in question is genuinely surplus and all of the sale proceeds must be used towards specific capital projects to improve school sports provision or educational facilities.

Investment in school buildings has risen from £683 million in 1996-97 to £21.8 billion in the three year period 2008-09 to 2010-11. Schools no longer have to sell their playing fields to pay for repairs.

There have not been any approvals for the sale of school playing fields in Leeds West constituency.