Children’s centre cash blow

CASH for children’s centres in Oldham is to be cut by £70 per child in the next financial year.

The funding slash, described as a tragedy by Labour, will mean a cut of over 20 per cent in the borough.

Prime Minister David Cameron came under fire after claiming the Sure Start cash was protected, despite figures showing cuts of up to £100 in some parts of the country.

Oldham was a pilot for Sure Start schemes when they were first introduced, with centres and satellite buildings now in most of Oldham’s wards.

Debbie Abrahams, Labour MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, has lashed out at the cuts arguing that the Prime Minister has gone back on a personal promise.

She said: “Of course all services need to look to be more efficient, but cuts which go too far and too fast could mean poorer services for children and families and maybe even a loss of some Sure Start Centres.

“They provide real help to thousands of children and parents across Oldham, and it would be a real tragedy if some of them were forced to close when they have just begun to pay real dividends.”

Oldham received £16.4million during 2010/11 but this will drop to £14.2million during 2011/12.

Across the country, up to 250 centres — one in every 14 — are expected to close over the next 12 months, affecting around 60,000 families.

Figures from the Department for Education show that Rochdale and Tameside councils will also face a similar hit, both will see a reduction of £70 per head.

Cash for Sure Start is no longer ring-fenced by the Government but is wrapped up in an Early Intervention Grant (EIG), which also funds careers advice to teenagers, childcare, support for disabled youngsters and drug prevention programmes.

Mr Cameron said: “Yes, we have made reductions because, frankly, we inherited a complete mess in terms of this nation’s finances.”