The recommendations from the School Playing Fields Advisory Panel are not binding on ministers, but it is rare for the panel's views to be ignored. The panel meets in secret, its members are not disclosed and its deliberations are not made public. Last night, Labour called for the panel's work to be opened up to public scrutiny so people can decide for themselves whether fields should be sold off. Shadow education secretary Stephen Twigg said: "It's vital that we have transparency so the public can decide if a playing field sale is justified or not. Labour set up the independent panel to ensure decisions were based on the evidence. The Government should publish minutes of the independent panel meetings. Cash from the sale at Windsor Girls" School will be used to build a state-of-the-art sports hall. The Daily Telegraph has launched a campaign called Keep The Flame Alive to boost school sport after the Olympics" success and to encourage more volunteering. There are fears that sales will increase when the Government removes legal protections on school playing fields at the end of next month. Mr Gove is scrapping a legal requirement stipulating how much outside space each school must provide for their pupils, and replacing it with non-binding guidance. By last night more than 150,000 people had signed a petition on the 38 Degrees website which urged Mr Gove to rethink the plans. The petition said: "Please don't force through your plans to relax the rules on the size of school playing fields. There's a real risk that if you do, children will be left without enough space to play. Last night a Government source said: "Labour's hypocrisy on playing fields is breathtaking. Over 100 school playing fields were sold while Twigg was an Education Minister. And now he calls for more transparency when it was Labour who set up the panel and decided it should provide confidential advice in the first place. An Education department spokesman said: "No decisions have yet been taken by ministers about the disposal of these playing fields. We will only agree to the sale of school playing fields if the sports and curriculum needs of schools and their neighbouring schools can continue to be met. This Government has only approved sales if the school has closed, has merged, or if equal or better facilities are being put in their place. By last night more than 150,000 people had signed a petition which urged Mr Gove to rethink the plans.