To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 22 January 2009, Official Report, column 1710W, on Sure Start programme, how many new Sure Start centres were designated in each month in (a) 2007 and (b) 2006. (260033)

The figures in the following table show the number of Sure Start children’s centres designated in each month in 2006 and 2007.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 22 January 2009, Official Report, column 1710W, on Sure Start programme, how many new Sure Start centres are planned to be established in each month in (a) 2009 and (b) 2010. (260034)

Local authorities are responsible for planning the delivery of Sure Start children’s centres so that by 2010 there will be at least 3,500 children’s centres, providing universal access to services for children under five and their families. Local authorities successfully exceeded the target for 2,500 Sure Start children’s centres in March 2008. There are now over 2,900 centres offering services to over 2.3 million children under five and their families.

Together for Children, the Department’s delivery partner for the children’s centre programme, is supporting local authorities in finalising their plans and timescales for delivery and will monitor progress against those plans.