Prime Minister's question asked in the House of Commons, by James Plaskitt (Labour). It was answered on Wednesday, 17 March 2010 on behalf of the Prime Minister.

Engagements

Question: The nine Sure Start children's centres in my constituency are doing an exceptional job. One head teacher, whose school has a centre attached to it, has told me that it would be a massive backward step to restrict access to that centre in any way, so can my right hon. Friend assure him and me that we will not do that?

Answer: We have opened 3,500 Sure Start centres in this country; that is a children's centre open in almost every community of the country, available to all families and to all children. That is a major transformation of children's services since 1997, and it would be a very sad day if an all-party consensus could not be reached on the fact that what we do for our under-fives is an essential element of early learning and an essential element of the development of their potential. The Conservative policy to cut back on Sure Start children's centres—[Interruption.] I think they protest too much, Mr. Speaker. The Leader of the Opposition said that Sure Start centres would be better targeted at the deprived communities of this country and not the 100 per cent. who need them.

Secondary information