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 contribution of children's play to improving health, educational attainment and community cohesion.
Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government recognises that childrenās play supports health, wellbeing, learning and social development, and can strengthen community cohesion by bringing children, families and residents together in shared local spaces. This is why the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is investing Ā£18 million through the Playground Fund to support 66 local authorities in England to create, improve or enhance up to 200 playgrounds in areas of greatest need. The fund targets places with higher levels of income deprivation affecting children and weaker existing playground provision, and supports high-quality, accessible and inclusive places to play.
Public playgrounds complement wider Government action to help children be healthier and more active by providing free, local opportunities for outdoor physical activity. The Department will monitor the Playground Fund to build evidence on best practice and interventions.
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 recent assessment her Department has made of trends in children's outdoor play in England.
Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government recognises that childrenās play supports health, wellbeing, learning and social development, and can strengthen community cohesion by bringing children, families and residents together in shared local spaces. This is why the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is investing Ā£18 million through the Playground Fund to support 66 local authorities in England to create, improve or enhance up to 200 playgrounds in areas of greatest need. The fund targets places with higher levels of income deprivation affecting children and weaker existing playground provision, and supports high-quality, accessible and inclusive places to play.
Public playgrounds complement wider Government action to help children be healthier and more active by providing free, local opportunities for outdoor physical activity. The Department will monitor the Playground Fund to build evidence on best practice and interventions.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
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 role of public playgrounds in helping to reduce levels of (a) childhood obesity and (b) physical inactivity.
Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government recognises that childrenās play supports health, wellbeing, learning and social development, and can strengthen community cohesion by bringing children, families and residents together in shared local spaces. This is why the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is investing Ā£18 million through the Playground Fund to support 66 local authorities in England to create, improve or enhance up to 200 playgrounds in areas of greatest need. The fund targets places with higher levels of income deprivation affecting children and weaker existing playground provision, and supports high-quality, accessible and inclusive places to play.
Public playgrounds complement wider Government action to help children be healthier and more active by providing free, local opportunities for outdoor physical activity. The Department will monitor the Playground Fund to build evidence on best practice and interventions.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment has she made of the potential impact of the availability of the Adventures Away From Home Fund for 26/27 on schools in Huntingdonshire.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
This Government fully recognises the value of outdoor learning and its positive impact on young peopleās wellbeing, school attainment, and reducing negative future outcomes.
As part of Youth Matters: Your National Youth Strategy, DCMS is investing over Ā£60 million to provide local organisations with money to deliver high-quality youth work and enriching activities, as well as Ā£350 million to refurbish or build up to 250 youth facilities. This will include outdoor activities and many other fun activities that benefit young people. We are designing the programme and will provide eligibility criteria in due course.
We have also launched Every Child Can, which will invest Ā£132.5m of dormant assets exclusively across the five key categories of enrichment announced in the Enrichment Framework. This includes opportunities in nature, outdoor and adventure.
Asked by: Caroline Voaden (Liberal Democrat - South Devon)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment has been made of the potential impact of defunding the Level 5 Outdoor Learning Specialist Apprenticeship on the outdoor education sector.
Answered by Andrew Western - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer of 13 April 2026 to Question UIN 123109.
Asked by: Julian Lewis (Conservative - New Forest East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will continue to fund the Level 5 Outdoor Learning Specialist Apprenticeship in order to allow (a) the cohort already accepted for the scheme to continue and (b) substantive consultation with the sector to take place.
Answered by Andrew Western - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Over the past decade weāve seen apprenticeship starts by those aged 16-24 fall by 40% and over half of all apprenticeship starts are now by learners aged 25 and over. At the same time, we have seen the apprenticeship offer increase to over 700 standards, many of which do not support critical skills shortages.
Even with record investment of Ā£3.3bn in 2026-27, the Growth and Skills Levy budget is finite. With 100% of our budget spent last year we need to prioritise in order to deliver foundation apprenticeships and short courses alongside the core apprenticeship offer. We are therefore withdrawing funding from 16 apprenticeships from September 2026, including the Level 5 Outdoor Learning Specialist standard.
These changes will help to create the headroom to invest in our national skills priorities with more opportunities for more young people, and new apprenticeship units to provide a more flexible offer to businesses. We are continuing to fund the related Level 3 Outdoor Activity Instructor apprenticeship which provides an entry route into this profession.
All existing learners on the Level 5 Outdoor Learning Specialist standard will continue to be funded through to completion, and providers have been written to individually to confirm their transition arrangements. Employers who value this apprenticeship standard will also be able to use it on a privately funded basis.
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Outdoor Learning Specialist apprenticeships are projected to start in the current funding year; how long the standard has been operational; and what he estimates to be the cost saving associated with defunding the Level 5 standard.
Answered by Andrew Western - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Outdoor Learning Specialist standard was approved for delivery from February 2022.
The department publishes a range of apprenticeships data, including on apprenticeship starts, and those for the current academic year are published here: Apprenticeships, Academic year 2025/26 - Explore education statistics - GOV.UK.
The department does not publish projected starts or estimated cost savings.
Asked by: Nigel Huddleston (Conservative - Droitwich and Evesham)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will publish an updated assessment of the economic contribution of outdoor visitor attractions to the UK economy; and what recent discussions she has had with industry representatives on the potential impact of weather-related behaviours on their levels of economic contribution.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
DCMS recognises the vital role outdoor visitor attractions play in the UKās visitor economy. These sites, ranging from world-leading zoos and theme parks to historic gardens, contribute to regional investment, local employment and often support learning and biodiversity conservation.
At this time, DCMS has not made a specific assessment of the potential financial impact of digital weather forecasting on outdoor visitor attractions. The Government is aware of the concerns raised by the sector regarding how these forecasts can influence visitor behaviour, including the recent campaign led by Chester Zoo.
My department continues to represent the interests of the visitor economy across Government and my officials are engaged on this matter. This includes membership of the Public Weather Service (PWS) Customer Group. This Group has been working closely with the Met Office to strengthen the focus on supporting the outdoor economy, including the visitor economy. More broadly, I remain committed to maintaining a close and constructive dialogue with industry representatives to ensure the visitor economy continues to thrive.
Asked by: Sarah Edwards (Labour - Tamworth)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential financial impact on outdoor visitor attractions, including zoos like Chester Zoo and theme parks like Drayton Manor, from the presentation of weather forecasts that use a single icon to summarise whole-day conditions.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
DCMS recognises the vital role outdoor visitor attractions play in the UKās visitor economy. These sites, ranging from world-leading zoos and theme parks to historic gardens, contribute to regional investment, local employment and often support learning and biodiversity conservation.
At this time, DCMS has not made a specific assessment of the potential financial impact of digital weather forecasting on outdoor visitor attractions. The Government is aware of the concerns raised by the sector regarding how these forecasts can influence visitor behaviour, including the recent campaign led by Chester Zoo.
My department continues to represent the interests of the visitor economy across Government and my officials are engaged on this matter. This includes membership of the Public Weather Service (PWS) Customer Group. This Group has been working closely with the Met Office to strengthen the focus on supporting the outdoor economy, including the visitor economy. More broadly, I remain committed to maintaining a close and constructive dialogue with industry representatives to ensure the visitor economy continues to thrive.
Asked by: Jim Dickson (Labour - Dartford)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to research from The University of Manchester entitled The right to play: making play a policy and practice priority, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that all schools have access to green spaces.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
Play is an essential part of childrenās physical, social and cognitive development, as recognised in the early years foundation stage statutory framework. All education settings, from early years to further education, can register with the National Education Nature Park which provides free and quality assured resources, guidance and support to enable them to turn their grounds from grey to green.
The Education Estates Strategy also recently set out how the new design specifications and Renewal and Retrofit Programme will increase access to nature and create better outdoor places with more variety, so that pupils can undertake both quiet and energetic activities.
The value of access to nature and outdoor learning is also being recognised and promoted through enrichment, with our upcoming Enrichment Framework including 'Nature, outdoors and adventure' as one of five categories that schools should seek to cover in a broad and well-rounded enrichment offer.