Written question asked by Colin Pickthall (Labour) on Tuesday, 8 March 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 22 March 2005. It was answered by Baroness Hodge of Barking (Labour) on Tuesday, 22 March 2005 on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills.

Dept for Education and Skills

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what estimate she has made of the number of midwives required for the Sure Start programme in the North West.

Answer: Mr. Pickthall: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate she has made of the number of midwives required for the Sure Start programme in the North West. [221412] Margaret Hodge: [holding answer 16 March 2005]: No estimate has been made of the number of midwives required for the Sure Start programme in the North West region. This would be for local discussion and agreement. Ante-natal and post-natal services, undertaken by midwives and health visitors, are a key element within the core health service activities undertaken by Sure Start local programmes and they will be part of the core services that will be offered in children's centres serving the most disadvantaged communities. These services are provided in different ways--through the direct employment of midwives to work with families living within the catchment area of a local programme, through secondment opportunities, and in partnership with primary care trusts.

Secondary information