§ Tony CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has further to develop Sure Start programmes in the Workington constituency, with particular reference to rural areas. [171618]
§ Margaret Hodge[holding answer 10 May 2004]: Local authorities are currently developing children's centres as the next phase in the Government's strategy to deliver better outcomes for children and families. Funding has been allocated to Cumbria county council to develop children's centres in their 20 per cent. most disadvantaged wards by March 2006, building on existing Sure Start local programmes and other provision. The local authority has determined the location of its children's centres. In the Workington constituency, one major new children's centre will be established in Workington. Children's centres are also being developed from the existing Sure Start West Allerdale rural local programme based around Maryport town and from the existing North Allerdale mini rural Sure Start covering Aspatria and Silloth. Both of these children's centres will continue to serve rural areas within the Workington constituency.
Hospital, Public Health Medicine and Community Health Services (HCHS): Staff with a specialty in Anaesthetics numbers(headcount) 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 December 20031 All Staff 6,731 6,939 7,178 7,517 8,056 8,511 n/a of which: Consultants 2,955 3,136 3,293 3,549 3,822 4,053 4,127 1 All data as at 30 September each year, except for 2003 December where data is at 31 December. n/a-not applicable. Source: Department of Health medical and dental workforce census. The number of consultant anaesthetists increased by 1,172, or 40 per cent, between September 1998 and December 2003.