Alan Campbell MP for Tynemouth has praised the Sure Start scheme which aims to deliver the best start in life for children. This scheme has so far brought over £46 million pounds into the North East to help reach 238,000 young children and their families.

There are currently 63 schemes in the North East. Some of these are already delivering full Sure Start services to parents and families and the Government is conducting an assessment of the long-term benefits to children, which will provide information on the overall benefit for the North East by spring 2004.

Alan Campbell said, "The childcare and healthcare provisions of this scheme will provide many benefits for families with young children, which will in turn benefit Tynemouth constituency as more parents are able to go out to work due to an increase in the number of childcare and pre-school education services."

For more information on the benefits of the Sure Start scheme visit http://www.surestart.gov.uk