§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to expand Sure Start. [136586]
§ Yvette Cooper[holding answer 6 November 2000]: I am delighted to say that following the Spending Review, the number of Sure Start programmes will be increased from 250 to 500 programmes by 2004 reaching a third of all children aged under four living in poverty. The budget for Sure Start will rise from £184 million a year in 2000–01 to £499 million a year in 2003–04.