Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many county councils have closed down their children's centres.

Local authorities have a duty under the Childcare Act 2006 to ensure sufficient children’s centres to meet the needs of local families. Local authorities must also consult fully before any significant changes are made to children’s centre services.

All 27 county councils in England have children’s centre sites open to families and children providing children's centre services as part of a network.

According to data supplied to the department by local authorities, at end May 2016, eight county councils had closed some sites within their children’s centre networks.

An independent survey carried out by the national children’s charity, 4Children (published October 2015) estimated more than a million children and families were using children’s centres.