Threat to Sure Start centres
Posted by Claire Ward, MP for Watford, at 14:34, Mon 23 February 2009:
Children's centres under threat from Tory proposals
Up to ten Sure Start children's centres in Hertfordshire could be forced to close down under budget cuts proposed by the Tory Party if they win the next General election according to Watford MP, Claire Ward.
David Cameron has made it clear that amongst the cost saving measures being considered if he became Prime Minister would be lopping £200 million a year from the Sure Start budget.
Hertfordshire County's children's services have opened around 50 Sure Start centre over the last few years - six of them in the Watford area. The Conservative proposals would mean cutting almost 20 per cent of the Sure Start budget -the equavalent of closing one in five centres across the country.
This news comes hot on the heels of a survey, which has revealed that 9 out of 10 parents who use the Sure Start Children’s Centres are happy with the service they receive.
Ms Ward said: "Sure Start centres have been one of the big successes of the Labour Government. Local parents regularly tell me how much they value the centres and the real help they offer with childcare, healthcare and other services for their children. As a working mother myself with two young children I know how important it is to have all childcare services under one roof.
“Ten years ago there were no children's centres in my constituency but now there are seven including the newest one right in the town centre in Market street supplementing the very successful units in Oxhey, Leavesden and West Watford.
"If the Tories get their way and slash the Sure Start budget dozens of these centres across the country will have to shut down just at the time when families in our area need them most. We cannot allow that to happen. The early years of a child’s life are vitally important for their future development - and that's why a Labour Government will continue to support Sure Start."
Labour’s Children’s Minister Beverley Hughes MP added:
“Sure Start Children’s Centres make a massive difference to parents and under-fives up and down the country. By 2010 we will have a Children’s Centre in every community – 3,500 across the country - and each one of them will soon be linked to a named health visitor. All that would be put at risk by the Conservative Party’s proposed cuts.
ENDS
Note to editors
1. In their ‘Helping new families’ policy document published on 15 March 2008, the Conservatives committed to cutting “£200 million per year…from Children’s Centres” to spend elsewhere:
http://www.conservatives.com/~/media/Files/Downloadable%20Files/Helping%20new%20families.ashx?dl=true. This would mean cutting 19.5% from Sure Start budgets – the equivalent of one in five Children’s Centres being forced to close. There are currently 2,919 Children’s Centres across England, so a £200 million cut could see 569 closed under the Conservative Party’s plans.
2. On top of this the Conservative Party is committed to restricting the Department for Children, Schools and Families budget to a 1% real terms increase from April this year - representing a £300 million cut. As yet, they have not come clean about where these cuts would fall, but this could represent further cuts to Sure Start.
3. To contact Claire Ward telephone her Westminster office on 020 7217 4910
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