News from Nottingham Labour

Tories u-turn on funding Sure Start

Councillor David Mellen, Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services, responds to news that the Conservatives have refused to guarantee funding for the national SureStart programme.

Councillor David Mellen is dismayed by the statement from Phillip Hammond, the shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, that the Conservatives may not guarantee funding for the Labour government’s early years programme, SureStart. In 2008, Oliver Letwin stated that SureStart would continue under a Tory government at the same level to which Labour was committed. He said: “It will not be cut back.”

Hammond has now signalled that the programme would be subject to the same scrutiny and possible ten to 15 per cent cuts subjected to all departments.

Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services, David Mellen, said:

“Our Children’s Centres and SureStart activities have become a vital part of the support for children and young families in every community across the city. With 16 children’s centres across the city with 2 more to come we have never seen such investment in young children. The Conservatives’ refusal to guarantee the future of SureStart puts all of these well-loved resources under threat if the government changes.”

The 16 Children’s Centres in Nottingham currently reach 85% of families with children from 0 – 5 years. They provide access to a wide range of core services including family health services, childcare, early education, family support, outreach services, links to employment and training opportunities and information for families.

More locally based services are also delivered through Nottingham’s Children’s Centres. These include: ante-natal and post natal care, parenting programmes, child health promotion, adult mental health services and child and adolescent mental health services.

Other news from Nottingham Labour

• Labour women will swim a mile for Nottingham children's charity - 5 March 2010
• Cabinet Minister drops in for tea with Nottingham students - 22 February 2010
• Nottingham South candidate launches residents' survey - 19 February 2010