Responding to MP Frank Dobson's review on children's play published one year ago, culture secretary Tessa Jowell confirmed that the ring-fenced money promised in the June 2001 Labour Party manifesto would now come from a general pot supplied by the Big Lottery Fund and other distributors.
In a letter to Mr Dobson last week, Ms Jowell said she still expects the funders to take forward the review's recommendations and make a 'massive difference' to play provision.
But the play sector has accused the Government of going back on its promise.
Adrian Voce, director of the Children's Play Council, said, 'Four years after this money was promised, it has yet to be allocated and many play projects that had anticipated funding will now be shelved or cut.'
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