Written question asked by Ivan Henderson (Labour) on Wednesday, 14 July 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 20 July 2004. It was answered by Baroness Hodge of Barking (Labour) on Tuesday, 20 July 2004 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 plans he has to support disadvantaged children and families who do not live in wards covered by the Sure Start programme.

Answer: Mr. Ivan Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to support disadvantaged children and families who do not live in wards covered by the Sure Start programme. [184996] Margaret Hodge: Children's centres are the focus of the Government's plans to expand high quality integrated service provision to young children and families. By 2008 we will have developed up to 2,500 children's centres. In areas not currently covered by Sure Start programmes, centres will develop from a wide range of settings in the maintained, private and voluntary sectors. In the long term the Government aims to develop a children's centre in every community.

Secondary information