Written question asked by Paul Marsden (Labour) on Wednesday, 2 May 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 9 May 2001. It was answered by Yvette Cooper (Labour) on Wednesday, 9 May 2001 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will make a statement on the Sure Start Programme in Shrewsbury and Atcham.

Answer: Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the Sure Start Programme in Shrewsbury and Atcham. [160516] Yvette Cooper: There are no Sure Start programmes operating in the Shrewsbury and Atcham constituency. Our aim is to establish 500 programmes in areas of disadvantage by 2003-04. To date, 260 programmes have been announced. Further programmes will be announced later this year. Districts are invited to submit plans for a Sure Start programme because collectively they have high levels of need and disadvantage, according to the DETR Index of Multiple Deprivation, and give a good spread between different types of area around the country. We will also be looking at ways that Sure Start can reach young children in areas with smaller pockets of deprivation.

Secondary information