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.

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.