Member

Family hubs figure so prominently in the families first partnership programme guide that I am optimistic that the good work of family hubs will not shrink back into pre-school provision only. Many hard-working staff delivering family hubs and Start for Life in local authorities, and their partner organisations, would greatly appreciate a little more detail on this Government’s plans. So I take this opportunity to probe the Government, first, on what continued investment in, and expansion of, the family hubs programme will look like. There are already 973 family hubs in 133 local authorities: a massive return on leadership shown by central government and its investment into around 87 councils; but there is much more to do. Secondly—not least, as it is related to the other two amendments in this group—do the Government know yet what broad contours the early years offer within family hubs networks will take?