To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many Sure Start children's centres have been set up; and what assessment he has made of progress towards the Government's target to have 2,500 centres by the end of 2008. (143553)

As of 14 June 2007 there were 1,306 designated Sure Start Children's Centres and we are on track to meet our target of delivering 2,500 centres by 2008. DfES have appointed the consortium, Together for Children, to work with local authorities to help build their capacity to plan, commission and project manage the roll-out of sustainable high quality children's centres. Support plans are being implemented with the agreement of all 150 local authorities, with the level and type of support tailored to their individual needs.