§ Mr. Liddell-GraingerTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what his policy is on Sure Start;1194W and what staffing resources have been allocated to implement Sure Start in Somerset in 2003–04. [161864]
§ Margaret HodgeSure Start is a vital part of our commitment to achieve better outcomes for all children. The Chancellor, in his budget speech, restated that commitment when he announced £669 million additional funding for Sure Start by 2007–08 which will pay for children's centres in all of the 20 per cent. most disadvantaged wards in England by 2007–08; 100,000 new childcare places, some of which will be to support nursery education places and a pilot to extend a free part-time early education place to 6,000 two years olds in disadvantaged areas.
£2.551 million has been allocated to Somerset for general Sure Start grant activities in 2003–04.
A further £2.244 million has been allocated to three Sure Start Local Programmes and two Mini Local Programmes in Somerset for 2003–04 (although this funding is controlled by the programmes rather than the local authority). The Department does not collect information on how this funding is allocated to meet staffing requirements.
In addition, the three Sure Start Local Programmes have a maximum capital allocation of £3.325 million. This funding is for use during the first three years of a programme's life. The Mini Sure Start in Chard also has an approved capital allocation of £ 250, 000.
Somerset is also developing 363 new full time child care places across the county through the Neighbourhood Nursery Initiative. Total revenue grant allocated for 2003–04 is approximately £455,000.
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§ Mr. GardinerTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the merits of Sure Start centres offering a facility for(a) consumer and (b) financial advice; and if he will meet the Consumers' Association to discuss the matter. [163361]
§ Margaret HodgeSure Start local programmes and children's centres are required to provide services which deliver the Sure Start Unit's PSA targets, including a target to reduce the number of children in workless households. Services are expected to be based on evidence of what works. Consumer and financial advice, including advice on in-work benefits for example, is already provided by many Sure Start local programmes and this will also be the case in children's centres.
I would be happy to consider a request for a meeting with the Consumers' Association and suggest they contact my office with a possible agenda.