To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what future funding he proposes to local authorities to fund children’s centres following the first year’s funding. (114820)

The first Sure Start children’s centres were set up in 2003. Between 2003 and 2006 we have delivered centres to reach 650,000 children under five and their families. We are now in the second phase which will see 2,500 centres in total up and running by 2008. The revenue allocation for the current phase (2006-08) is £1.4 billion for children’s centres and Sure Start Local Programmes and includes start-up funding for new centres opening between 2006 and 2008 as well as ongoing funding to support centres that opened before April 2006. By 2010 we aim to have 3,500 centres open—one for every community—and we intend that children’s centres will be a key part of our permanent, mainstream children’s services. Decisions about funding for children’s centres after 2008 will be taken when we have concluded our comprehensive spending review.