Asked by: Tom Hayes (Labour - Bournemouth East)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that children in deprived communities have equal access to quality play opportunities.
Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Playgrounds are an important part of healthy, happy and connected communities, supporting children’s physical health, wellbeing and social development. Responsibility for the provision and maintenance of public playgrounds sits mainly with local authorities, who are best placed to understand local need and determine local priorities.
The Government recognises that access to safe, high-quality, accessible and inclusive play spaces varies across England. That is why we are providing the £18 million Playground Fund, which will support 66 local authorities to create, improve or enhance up to 200 playgrounds in areas of greatest need. The Fund has been targeted using national data on child income deprivation, children per playground, playground size and children’s travel distance to playgrounds. Guidance has been issued to local authorities to help them focus on engaging with communities and improving the inclusivity of these spaces. This will help improve access in deprived communities and reduce geographic inequalities.
The National Planning Policy Framework, published in August 2026, strengthens support for new and improved community facilities, including where they are required to support new development. It also safeguards against the loss of playing fields and other formal and informal play spaces.
Asked by: Tom Hayes (Labour - Bournemouth East)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to issue guidance to local authorities on removing restrictions on children's active play, including ball games.
Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government recognises the importance of safe, high-quality playgrounds for children and families. Responsibility for the provision, inspection, maintenance and management of local authority-owned playgrounds rests with individual local authorities, which are best placed to assess local needs and priorities. My department does not currently plan to issue guidance on these matters but will keep this under review in the usual course of business.
Asked by: Tom Hayes (Labour - Bournemouth East)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the number of children who do not have access to a high-quality playground within walking distance of their home.
Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Playgrounds are an important part of healthy, happy and connected communities, supporting children’s physical health, wellbeing and social development. Responsibility for the provision and maintenance of public playgrounds sits mainly with local authorities, who are best placed to understand local need and determine local priorities.
The Government recognises that access to safe, high-quality, accessible and inclusive play spaces varies across England. That is why we are providing the £18 million Playground Fund, which will support 66 local authorities to create, improve or enhance up to 200 playgrounds in areas of greatest need. The Fund has been targeted using national data on child income deprivation, children per playground, playground size and children’s travel distance to playgrounds. Guidance has been issued to local authorities to help them focus on engaging with communities and improving the inclusivity of these spaces. This will help improve access in deprived communities and reduce geographic inequalities.
The National Planning Policy Framework, published in August 2026, strengthens support for new and improved community facilities, including where they are required to support new development. It also safeguards against the loss of playing fields and other formal and informal play spaces.
Asked by: Tom Hayes (Labour - Bournemouth East)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to reduce geographic inequalities in access to playgrounds and play opportunities.
Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Playgrounds are an important part of healthy, happy and connected communities, supporting children’s physical health, wellbeing and social development. Responsibility for the provision and maintenance of public playgrounds sits mainly with local authorities, who are best placed to understand local need and determine local priorities.
The Government recognises that access to safe, high-quality, accessible and inclusive play spaces varies across England. That is why we are providing the £18 million Playground Fund, which will support 66 local authorities to create, improve or enhance up to 200 playgrounds in areas of greatest need. The Fund has been targeted using national data on child income deprivation, children per playground, playground size and children’s travel distance to playgrounds. Guidance has been issued to local authorities to help them focus on engaging with communities and improving the inclusivity of these spaces. This will help improve access in deprived communities and reduce geographic inequalities.
The National Planning Policy Framework, published in August 2026, strengthens support for new and improved community facilities, including where they are required to support new development. It also safeguards against the loss of playing fields and other formal and informal play spaces.
Asked by: Tom Hayes (Labour - Bournemouth East)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if she will commit funding to British Cycling’s pipeline of ready-to-deliver projects, including BMX tracks.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government is committed to ensuring as many people as possible can participate in sports of their choosing. We recognise the need to provide a range of facilities based on what communities need across the UK. We are collaborating with the sports sector, including British Cycling, and local leaders to develop investment plans for a range of sports across the country based on what each community needs.
We are investing ÂŁ400m through to 2030 in new and upgraded grassroots sport facilities, promoting health, wellbeing and community cohesion, while removing the barriers to physical activity for under-represented groups, including people with disabilities. Further details on funding allocations for sports for this funding package, including cycling, will be confirmed in due course.
When the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes Grand DĂ©parts comes to the UK next year, the Government will invest ÂŁ32 million to ensure we not only deliver these iconic races, but also support the new JOY Makers social impact programme to deliver a lasting legacy from the event.
Asked by: Tom Hayes (Labour - Bournemouth East)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has considered introducing a statutory duty on local authorities to assess and secure adequate play opportunities for children.
Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
While the department has no plans to bring forward a national play strategy, it has made significant steps to improve the availability of playgrounds. Playgrounds are an important part of play opportunities for children that support children’s physical health, wellbeing and social development. The Government has brought forward £18m of funding through the Playground fund, which will improve children’s access to safe, inclusive, high‑quality local play spaces in communities where it has fallen furthest behind. £18m over two years will support local authorities to deliver new or refurbish up to 200 playgrounds across England, prioritising areas with high child deprivation and poor access to safe, local play space.
The Government’s Pride in Place Programme will also provide up to £5.8 billion over ten years to support 284 neighbourhoods identified as most in need. Each neighbourhood under the programme will be given up to £20m of flexible funding and support. In each place, the local neighbourhood board will work with the community to decide how this funding is spent, which could include investment in local regeneration projects such as parks and playgrounds where these reflect local priorities.
The National Planning Policy Framework, published in August 2026, strengthens support for new and improved community facilities, including where they are required to support new development. It also safeguards against the loss of playing fields and other formal and informal play spaces.
Asked by: Tom Hayes (Labour - Bournemouth East)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of statutory play sufficiency duties elsewhere in the United Kingdom.
Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
While the department has no plans to bring forward a national play strategy, it has made significant steps to improve the availability of playgrounds. Playgrounds are an important part of play opportunities for children that support children’s physical health, wellbeing and social development. The Government has brought forward £18m of funding through the Playground fund, which will improve children’s access to safe, inclusive, high‑quality local play spaces in communities where it has fallen furthest behind. £18m over two years will support local authorities to deliver new or refurbish up to 200 playgrounds across England, prioritising areas with high child deprivation and poor access to safe, local play space.
The Government’s Pride in Place Programme will also provide up to £5.8 billion over ten years to support 284 neighbourhoods identified as most in need. Each neighbourhood under the programme will be given up to £20m of flexible funding and support. In each place, the local neighbourhood board will work with the community to decide how this funding is spent, which could include investment in local regeneration projects such as parks and playgrounds where these reflect local priorities.
The National Planning Policy Framework, published in August 2026, strengthens support for new and improved community facilities, including where they are required to support new development. It also safeguards against the loss of playing fields and other formal and informal play spaces.
Asked by: Tom Hayes (Labour - Bournemouth East)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with ministerial colleagues on establishing cross-government objectives for children's play.
Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
While the department has no plans to bring forward a national play strategy, it has made significant steps to improve the availability of playgrounds. Playgrounds are an important part of play opportunities for children that support children’s physical health, wellbeing and social development. The Government has brought forward £18m of funding through the Playground fund, which will improve children’s access to safe, inclusive, high‑quality local play spaces in communities where it has fallen furthest behind. £18m over two years will support local authorities to deliver new or refurbish up to 200 playgrounds across England, prioritising areas with high child deprivation and poor access to safe, local play space.
The Government’s Pride in Place Programme will also provide up to £5.8 billion over ten years to support 284 neighbourhoods identified as most in need. Each neighbourhood under the programme will be given up to £20m of flexible funding and support. In each place, the local neighbourhood board will work with the community to decide how this funding is spent, which could include investment in local regeneration projects such as parks and playgrounds where these reflect local priorities.
The National Planning Policy Framework, published in August 2026, strengthens support for new and improved community facilities, including where they are required to support new development. It also safeguards against the loss of playing fields and other formal and informal play spaces.
Asked by: Tom Hayes (Labour - Bournemouth East)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to develop a National Play Strategy for England.
Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
While the department has no plans to bring forward a national play strategy, it has made significant steps to improve the availability of playgrounds. Playgrounds are an important part of play opportunities for children that support children’s physical health, wellbeing and social development. The Government has brought forward £18m of funding through the Playground fund, which will improve children’s access to safe, inclusive, high‑quality local play spaces in communities where it has fallen furthest behind. £18m over two years will support local authorities to deliver new or refurbish up to 200 playgrounds across England, prioritising areas with high child deprivation and poor access to safe, local play space.
The Government’s Pride in Place Programme will also provide up to £5.8 billion over ten years to support 284 neighbourhoods identified as most in need. Each neighbourhood under the programme will be given up to £20m of flexible funding and support. In each place, the local neighbourhood board will work with the community to decide how this funding is spent, which could include investment in local regeneration projects such as parks and playgrounds where these reflect local priorities.
The National Planning Policy Framework, published in August 2026, strengthens support for new and improved community facilities, including where they are required to support new development. It also safeguards against the loss of playing fields and other formal and informal play spaces.
Asked by: Tom Hayes (Labour - Bournemouth East)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an estimate of the number of playgrounds that could be improved through a further ÂŁ18 million investment in playgrounds.
Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government is committed to improving access to safe, inclusive and high-quality play spaces. The ÂŁ18 million Playground Fund will support up to 200 playground improvement projects across 66 local authorities in England, helping more children access safe, inclusive and high-quality places to play. Funding is targeted at areas with higher levels of child deprivation and poorer existing play provision. The fund forms part of the Government's wider Pride in Place strategy, which includes up to ÂŁ5.8 billion of investment over ten years for 284 neighbourhoods, providing communities with flexible funding that can be used for local priorities, including parks and playgrounds where these reflect local need.
No decisions have been made on future funding arrangements. Any future funding would be subject to the usual Government spending processes. The department will take account of evidence and delivery learning from the current ÂŁ18 million Playground Fund. The methodology used for the current programme focused on deprivation and access to play provision and future budget decisions on investment in play provision, including the numbers and locations, will be informed by this evidence, the level of need and wider Government priorities.