INTERVIEW: Let's take play seriously - Frank Dobson, Labour MP and leader of the children's play review

But this will change if Labour MP Frank Dobson has his way. Dobson and Tim Gill, director of the Children's Play Council, presented the findings of a review of play provision last week.

The former health secretary is the long-time chair of the Coram's Fields and Harmsworth Memorial Playground Trust in central London, so he has more than a passing interest in the issue.

Commissioned by culture secretary Tessa Jowell in October 2002, the review sets out recommendations for the allocation of 200m of Lottery money earmarked for children's play and says most of the money should go to deprived areas. It is not that deprived areas necessarily have less play provision, Dobson explains, but that such facilities are more likely to be in need of cash.

"Some deprived areas have quite a lot of play facilities," he says. "It's only when you get there you realise the swings are broken, the roundabout's had it, there's broken glass, used syringes, used contraceptives ..."

Dobson is opposed to the idea of a single government department for play and wants the health, education and culture departments to work together.

The bulk of the work will be done locally, he says, and the review envisages local councils working in partnership with voluntary and community groups to deliver projects.

He is also hopeful about the possibility of a national strategy, that could be formulated around the review, which makes recommendations for spending the cash, sets out criteria for exemplary play schemes and gives examples of best practice.

But there are sticking points. The review puts great emphasis on informal play on empty brownfield sites, recommending these be preserved where possible. Yet how can this be achieved given the Government's targets for using brownfield land?

Play champions are one answer, says Dobson. Individuals working in local authorities will "have their eyes and ears" deployed across the borough and will be able to step in.

"If you have a committed unit, they should know that such-and-such a patch is an informal play area. That doesn't necessarily mean every informal play area has to survive. It means if an area is built on there has to be some alternative provision made and the developer may have to find a place and pay for it," he says.

Greater inclusion for children who are disabled, older, from ethnic minorities or female - girls are often "elbowed out" - is also recommended. But while provision for disabled children, for example, could be improved by better equipment and specialist play workers, access for girls is more difficult.

Dobson is sanguine. "If you recognise there's a problem then you can do something about it," he says. "You need to look at the provision. Maybe you need a woman there! Then you can try to find out what girls want."

He uses Coram's Fields as an example, citing "girl-friendly" changing rooms as being successful in encouraging girls to play informal sport.

But all these improvements need money. Reaction to the review has been favourable but the short-term nature of the funding is a problem.

"It isn't Government policy but my view is the Government should give a commitment that there will be a higher level of Lottery funding in the future for play," Dobson says.

Most of all, he wants more places like Coram's Fields. "Who would think that right in the middle of the most cosmopolitan city in the world there are seven acres where children are safe?" he marvels.

BACKGROUND

Labour stalwart turned children's champion

- Born in York. Educated at Archbishop Holgate Grammar School and the London School of Economics

- Ex-leader of Camden Council. MP for Holborn and St Pancras since 1979

- Opposition spokesman on topics such as education from 1982 to 1997

- Secretary of state for health from 1997 to 1999. Labour candidate for London mayor, coming third behind Ken Livingstone and Steven Norris

- Chair of Coram's Fields and Harmsworth Memorial Playground Trust in London for more than 20 years

- Launched children's play review at behest of culture secretary Tessa Jowell in October 2002. Presented the review's findings last week.