We understand that the 200m National Lottery funding announced for children's play in June 2001 is no longer to be ringfenced for play. This is despite repeated government assurances to the contrary and the overwhelming case in favour of establishing a dedicated funding stream for play, in particular for disabled children and those who suffer from disadvantage.
In November 2003, arts minister Estelle Morris told the House of Commons that the New Opportunities Fund money was "real pounds, shillings and pence that will bring about real improvement in play".
There was widespread approval for the Labour Party's general election pledge to "earmark 200m for the next round of the New Opportunities Fund to create 2,000 new children's safe play areas throughout the UK".
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