Charles Walker calls on the Education Secretary to guarantee funding for the Sure Start scheme in Waltham Cross and to promote the retention of health visitors by Sure Start initiatives in Herts.

Mr. Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what measures he is taking to guarantee funding of the Sure Start scheme in Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire; and if he will make a statement. [80494]

Beverley Hughes [holding answer 26 June 2006]: The Waltham Cross Sure Start mini programme has become a Sure Start Children's Centre. We have made a total of £20,242,933 revenue available to Hertfordshire county council as part of the council's 2006-08 General Sure Start Grant, which includes funding for Sure Start Children's Centres. How revenue is distributed to individual centres is a matter for Hertfordshire. However, we have asked local authorities to ensure that revenue funding is continued to be made available to Sure Start local programmes including mini programmes in their Sure Start Children's Centres plan.

Mr. Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps he is taking to promote the retention of health visitors by Sure Start initiatives in Hertfordshire; and if he will make a statement. [80495]

Beverley Hughes [holding answer 26 June 2006]: The recent Department of Health White Paper, "Our Health, Our Care, Our Say: a new direction for community services