The challenge was made last week by the independent charity the National Playing Fields Association (NPFA). It said that statistics published at the end of Labour's first term in office showed that out of 164 applications to dispose of school playing fields, just five were turned down by former education secretary David Blunkett, then responsible for playing fields, a role now taken by Baroness Ashton.
Elsa Davies, NPFA director, said, 'These figures mean the Government is standing up for the schoolchildren in about 3 per cent of cases. After the talk about protecting school playing fields, it's not a very impressive record.'
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