HC Deb 06 January 2004 vol 416 cc303-4W
Dr. Tonge

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to expand Sure Start schemes. [144709]

Margaret Hodge

[holding answer 18 December 2003]: There will be 524 Sure Start local programmes by the beginning of 2004. Children's centres represent the next stage of the Government's plans to expand high quality integrated services in disadvantaged areas. Centres will develop largely from existing provision, including Sure Start local programmes, early excellence centres and neighbourhood nurseries. Children's centres will be initially developed in the 20 per cent. most disadvantaged wards in England. In the long term the Government aim to develop a children's centre in every community.

Mr. Simmonds

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children have had access to Sure Start local programmes in England and Wales in each year since 1998; and how many are expected to have access to such programmes in 2004. [145265]

Margaret Hodge

The numbers of children aged 0 to 3 with access to Sure Start local programmes in England as at 31 March each year are shown in the table. All numbers are rounded to the nearest hundred. Sure Start in Wales is the responsibility of the devolved administration.

Number of children
1999 0
2000 41,700
2001 116,600
2002 200,500
2003 350,600
2004 (estimated) 411,900