Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by Brian Iddon (Labour). It was answered on Thursday, 9 February 2006 on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills.

Sure Start/Children's Fund

Question: I represent some of the most deprived wards in the country, where Sure Start and children's centres have made a real difference, not only in terms of education. An holistic approach is taken: children's health is improving and so is the community. I ask my right hon. Friend to continue to target such centres on the most deprived wards in the land.

Answer: My hon. Friend makes an important point. As the House knows, we are moving from an area-based local programme targeted on disadvantaged areas to a mainstream integrated service for all under-fives, with a children's centre in every community by 2010. However, I assure my hon. Friend that our focus for the full offering of fully integrated services will remain on disadvantaged areas, because we know that if we help disadvantaged children to improve their attainment early in their lives that will continue through their primary and secondary years and improve their life chances. The Government are determined to do that.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 442 c995
Session: 2005-06
Oral question type: Supplementary
Chamber / Committee: House of Commons chamber
Subjects: Children Disadvantaged Sure Start programme Children's Fund Finance Children's centres
Link: View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk