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Written Question
Ministry of Defence: Land
Monday 14th September 2026

Asked by: Alex Baker (Labour - Aldershot)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many playgrounds there are across the military estate; what assessment he has made of the state of those playgrounds; and what steps he is taking to maintain and upgrade children’s play areas.

Answered by Calvin Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans and People)

As of 8 September 2026, there are 486 playgrounds across the UK Defence estate.

Where replacement or refurbishment of playgrounds is required, works are delivered as individual projects under the Future Defence Infrastructure Services (FDIS) contracts.

Under the FDIS contracts, routine inspections of playgrounds are undertaken which comprise weekly visual inspections and annual health and safety inspections

Over the last 12 months, nine playgrounds have been refurbished and a further two playgrounds are undergoing full refurbishment this Financial Year.

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One of 115 Labour No votes vs 209 Labour Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 293 Noes - 218
Division Vote (Commons)
11 Sep 2026 - Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill - View Vote Context
Alex Baker (Lab) voted No - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 153 Labour No votes vs 190 Labour Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 270 Noes - 286
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Alex Baker - View Speech

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Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 07 Sep 2026
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Alex Baker - View Speech

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Alex Baker - View Speech

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Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 07 Sep 2026
Local Government Reorganisation

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Alex Baker - View Speech

View all Alex Baker (Lab - Aldershot) contributions to the debate on: Local Government Reorganisation
Division Vote (Commons)
7 Sep 2026 - Health Bill - View Vote Context
Alex Baker (Lab) voted No - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 311 Labour No votes vs 0 Labour Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 170 Noes - 316
Division Vote (Commons)
7 Sep 2026 - Health Bill - View Vote Context
Alex Baker (Lab) voted No - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 317 Labour No votes vs 0 Labour Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 77 Noes - 317
Division Vote (Commons)
2 Sep 2026 - Representation of the People Bill - View Vote Context
Alex Baker (Lab) voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 322 Labour Aye votes vs 0 Labour No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 411 Noes - 102