Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Elizabeth Truss and Graeme Morrice

Monday 9th September 2013 Commons Chamber

[Graeme Morrice (Livingston) (Lab)]

15. What plans he has for Sure Start children’s centres.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education (Elizabeth Truss)]

The Department issued guidance in April to make it clear that the core purpose of children’s centres is to support families and improve outcomes for children. We want to see a greater emphasis on evidence-based policies. Ofsted has also sharpened its focus on outcomes for children.

[Graeme Morrice]

I thank the Minister for her response. However, the Government’s own figures show that there are 562 fewer children’s centres than at the time of the last election. How many more community assets does the Minister want to see lost?

[Elizabeth Truss]

The reality is that the vast majority of those centres have been merged or have seen their management restructured. Only 1% of children’s centres— that is 45 children’s centres—have closed outright. The hon. Gentleman is using a misleading figure. The fact is that Labour Members would rather have bureaucracy and management than outcomes-based front-line work. Are they seriously saying that they would reintroduce the managers and the bureaucracy?