To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what consideration is made of the requirements of maternity services in the development of Sure Start children's centres.

All Sure Start children's centres should link with their local maternity services to improve the accessibility of ante and post-natal care and promote their integration with other services.

Joint Department of Health/Department of Education and Skills children's centre guidance set out policy that through children's trust arrangements, local authorities and PCTs should ensure these opportunities for the benefits are maximised, particularly for disadvantaged and excluded groups. It is up to local authorities and PCTs to agree the scope of the working arrangements and the level of resources allocated to them.