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Sure Start Children's Centres

I believe that that measure was originally introduced by the mayor of Rotterdam, who picked the 27 threshold. It was about creating incentives at a local level in order really to tackle the root of the problem. The hon. Gentleman, as befits a previous Select Committee Chairman, tries again to correct me by pointing out that I did not necessarily give the full story. Will Ministers explain the rationale for the things included in the early intervention grant? I should like to understand how they hold together. Will they take us through the finances of the grant in some detail, and tell the House whether the Government have acted on the Select Committee report recommendation that they pull together all the funding that goes into Sure Start children's centres? How much will come through health visitors? Also, can Ministers tell us more about health visitors? One of the most important things that children's centres can do is be more effective in outreach. The National Audit Office and the Durham university study found that, in fact, children's centres were not as effective in that respect as they could be. The growth in health visitors could play a major part in creating a more effective outreach service that identifies such children earlier and gets them the services and support they need, so that they are school-ready. Mindful, as ever, of your ministrations, Mr Speaker, I shall sit down.