Labour’s Children’s Minister Beverley Hughes MP has warned that Conservative Party plans to cut £200 million each year from the Sure Start budget could see one in five Children’s Centres forced to close their doors.
In Hull, this would mean the closure of four centres. It comes as research published by Ed Balls and Beverley Hughes this week shows that nine out of ten parents who use Sure Start Children’s Centres are happy with the service. More than 2.3 million children under five and their families now have access to services through nearly 3,000 Children’s Centres across England.
But the £200 million cut proposed by David Cameron’s Conservatives means cutting almost 20 per cent of the Sure Start budget each year – the equivalent of closing one in five Children’s Centres.
Ten years ago there were no Children’s Centres. Now there are 19 in Hull, and nearly 3,000 across the country. The Labour Government will keep investing in Sure Start because the early years of a child’s life are so important.
To find the names and locations of local Children’s Centres visit the Sure Start website:
Mon, Feb 23, 2009
education