§ Mr. CoakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the need for a Sure Start scheme in the Gedling constituency; and if he will make a statement. [142941]
§ Yvette CooperAs a result of the Spending Review, investment in Sure Start has more than doubled, and by 2003–04 Sure Start will reach one third of all children under four living in poverty. The main criteria used in selecting districts for Sure Start are levels of disadvantage and poverty, though we also ensure a good mix of rural, urban, semi-urban and coastal areas and a good spread across the country. On the measures of deprivation we have used, Gedling has lower levels of poverty and disadvantage than the areas so far invited to develop a Sure Start programme. As the programme develops, we shall examine ways in which Sure Start can reach disadvantaged young children living in areas with small pockets of deprivation, and in rural areas. We shall be evaluating Sure Start carefully, and disseminating the lessons we learn widely, so that Sure Start will benefit all young children.
§ Mr. CoakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when the next phase of Sure Start will be announced; and what plans he has to include in it small pockets of deprivation outside city council areas. [142834]
§ Yvette Cooper[pursuant to her reply, 15 December 2000, c. 280W]: Sure Start is an innovative cross-departmental and pioneering programme, which fulfils the Government's undertaking to improve support for families and children before and from birth. Sure Start aims to transform the life chances of younger children through better access to family support, advice on child development, child care, health services and early education. It is focused on areas of disadvantage and open to all families in Sure Start local programme catchment areas. The fourth wave of Sure Start will be announced early in 2001, and will bring the total number of Sure Start programmes to 250 or more, meeting the target set in the first Sure Start Public Service Agreement. The 250 programmes will be spread across the country and contain a mix of rural, urban, semi-urban, and coastal areas.
Following the Spending Review, investment in Sure Start has been more than doubled, and Sure Start will aim to reach one third of all children under four living in poverty by 2003–04. Although Sure Start must remain focused on areas of disadvantage, we shall also be exploring how Sure Start can meet the needs of disadvantaged young children living in small pockets of deprivation.