Sure Start in Danger!
Last year David Cameron and George Osbourne announced that a future Tory Government would cut the Sure Start budget by 20% to save approximately £200million. They have not retracted that promise to date. Because Sure Start is a ringfenced budget this would mean that 1 of the 4 centres (Beverley, Hornsea, Hedon and Withernsea) would have to close.
I have challenged Graham Stuart to say if he backs this closure by his party and, if so, which centre would he close. He has not responded.
Because I believe Sure Start to be so vital to children and parents / carers I went to London to speak directly with Diana Johnson in the House of Commons. Diana is the MP for Hull North as well as Minister for Schools at the Department for Children, Families and Schools. Diana responded very positively that if Labour form the next Government they intend to increase the current 3197 centres to 3500.
David Willetts the Tory Spokesperson for Univerisities and Skills has been quoted as saying on the 22nd January 2010 that "very few of the 3197 centres would remain open and those that did would be to serve only the most deprived areas".
If this is true it would mean that all 4 of our centres would close.
Again I have challenged Graham Stuart and again no response (as at - 25th January 2010).
The people of Beverley & Holderness have a clear choice:
Closure of all our Sure Start Centres under the Tories or expand and improve them under Labour.