Responding to a parliamentary question by Labour’s shadow children’s minister Sharon Hodgson, Truss revealed there were 3,230 children’s centres in November 2012, 401 fewer than in April 2010.
Of these, 25 have closed completely, while the rest are the result of mergers and other forms of reorganisation, such as the creation of a central “hub” centre with smaller “spoke” centres providing limited programmes of services.
According to the figures, London is the worst hit region, with a reduction in 126 children’s centres between 2010 and November 2012. The number of children’s centres also dropped by 62 in the South East of England, during the same period.
Cornwall now has just 18 children’s centres compared to 40 in 2010. Lincolnshire has 27 fewer centres since the coalition government was formed and Birmingham has 10 fewer. In Central Bedfordshire the number of centres fell from 22 to nine between 2010 and 2012.
4Children chief executive Anne Longfield said the reduction in the number of children's centres across the country is a cause for concern.
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