Play Facilities

Part of 1. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Education – in the Senedd at 2:08 pm on 19 September 2018.

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Photo of Janet Finch-Saunders Janet Finch-Saunders Conservative 2:08, 19 September 2018

Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. A number of constituents have approached me recently about a recently announced withdrawal of playground facilities at their own school, without any explanation from the local authority. Now, set this against a background of a 35 per cent real-terms cut in local government expenditure for play and recreational facilities, the £15,000—that's all—repair bill required to actually repair this play facility before autumn half term is unaffordable. Now, the Welsh Government's play policy 2002 states that

'Play is the elemental learning process'.

So, can you explain why school play facilities across Wales are being so lamentably underfunded? And how are you working with your partners in the Welsh Government, in their Cabinet positions, to ensure that money is provided to schools so that our children can literally go out and play?