Unveiling plans to create 50,000 new childcare places through children's centres, Hunt said he would bring back a requirement on councils to provide childcare at the centres, something that was removed by the coalition government.
The Labour Party hopes private and charity sector providers will come forward to deliver this extra childcare provision as he cited recent figures from 4Children that estimate around 1,100 children’s centres have space to provide more childcare.
Hunt said: “It is a scandal that these brilliant community assets are being mothballed or even closed at a time when parents are crying out for decent childcare in their communities.
“So we’re going to put the lights back on, get the kids back in and restore the founding purpose of Sure Start.
“Our plan to save Sure Start will place local authorities under a legal obligation to provide access to childcare at these centres – along with the power to do it by opening up the doors to local providers desperate for good premises like these.
Speaking on The Andrew Marr Show on BBC One he added that the move would be “zero cost” to taxpayers.
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