To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families

(1) how many Sure Start children's centres were operating in (a) Test Valley borough and (b) the City of Southampton on the latest date for which figures are available; and how many such centres were originally planned to be operational on that date;

(2) how many Sure Start children's centres are planned for (a) Test Valley borough and (b) the City of Southampton; and when he expects all such centres to be operational;

(3) what estimate he has made of the number of children in each age group who are eligible for participation in the Sure Start children's centres programme in (a) Test Valley borough and (b) the City of Southampton; what the capacity of such children's centres was in those areas on the latest date for which figures are available; and how many such children were participating in that programme on that date.

Sure Start children's centres provide a universal service for all children under five and their parents or carers when they need it. Local authorities are responsible for planning and delivering sure start children's centres in their areas.

Test Valley borough council currently has four Sure Start children's centres up and running, offering access to services to around 4,285 children under five and their families. A further two centres are planned for the Test Valley area by March 2010. The city of Southampton currently has 11 children's centres offering services to approximately 10,057 children under five with a further three planned by March 2010.

There are 12,600 children under five⁽¹⁾ in Southampton and 71,700 in Hampshire. We are unable to provide figures for the Test Valley area as figures are set at local authority level. The Department does not collect information centrally on the number of children using children's centres services.

⁽¹⁾ Source:

ONS Survey 2007.