The estimate reveals that children's centres are being funded at threequarters of the level Sure Starts are. This compares with the two-thirdsfigure given to MPs on Parliament's Education and Skills SelectCommittee by children's minister Beverley Hughes last year (ChildrenNow, 29 November- 5 December).
Ann Goss, deputy director of the children's centres and extended schoolsdivision in the Department for Education and Skills, said the newestimate "is, in fact, a rather higher percentage than the ministersuggested".
The estimate, obtained using the Freedom of Information Act, suggestseach Sure Start received an average of 728,574 in 2006/07. Incomparison, children's centres received 556,883 in the sameperiod.
Hughes' original figure was criticised as an overestimate in January ina letter to Children Now by four Sure Starts in Kent (Children Now,10-16 January). The letter argued that children's centres wereunderfunded compared with Sure Starts.
