PMQs: Miliband and Cameron in Sure Start spat
Ed Miliband and David Cameron have clashed over claims that around 250 Sure Start centres will have to close.
The pair argued in prime minister’s questions over claims from the Daycare Trust made last month that 250 Sure Start centres face closure as a result of the government’s spending plans.
Labour leader Mr Miliband said that funding had been cut by nine per cent. Mr Cameron responded by claiming that Mr Miliband “hasn’t done his homework”, insisting the relevant budget was increasing from £2.2 billion to £2.3 billion.
He quoted the charity’s chief executive Anand Shukla as saying that ministers had “allocated sufficient funding for the existing network of Sure Start children’s centres to be maintained”.
“We have maintained the money for Sure Start, we have maintained the money for children’s centres and the head of the Daycare Trust backs our view rather than his,” he added.
The quote originated from the January 28th Daycare Trust press release in which the organisation made its warning about the 250 closures, however.
A spokesperson for the Daycare Trust told politics.co.uk: “We stand by that research.”
The ringfence for the Sure Start funding has been removed, the spokesperson explained, suggesting that cuts were likely.
Mr Shukla added last month: “Behind every Children’s Centre facing closure is a community of families devastated at losing one of their most valued local services.
“The tragedy of these cuts is that the full extent of Sure Start’s impact on children’s development will only be achieved in the long term – and the impending closure of so many centres means this investment will not now be fully realised.”
The Daycare Trust’s conclusions were based on findings by 4Children that suggested approximately 250 Sure Start children centres were at risk of closing within a year.
A further 2,000 would cut back the services they offer to families while 3,100, or 86% of the total, faced a decreased budget.
As a charity bound by Charity Commission rules the Daycare Trust emphasised that it remained politically neutral.
Its chief executive Mr Shukla said this afternoon: “We fully welcome the debate on Sure Start at PMQs.
“It reflects the importance attached to the issue. Parents across the country hugely value their local Childrens’ Centre.
“We will be writing to both the prime minister and Labour leader to clarify our position.”
Mr Miliband told MPs after Mr Cameron’s reply: “He’s cut the funding and we’ll judge him on whether the Sure Start centres do close.”
