Oral Answers to Questions

Jim Cunningham Excerpts
Monday 18th July 2011

(12 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Maria Miller Portrait Maria Miller
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The average wait at the moment is more than two months for a new application to be processed, and that can lead to non-resident parents unavoidably accruing arrears—a problem that we inherited with the present very difficult system. We have plans to undertake a fundamental reform that will considerably improve this, and lead to a much shorter time for processing claims, which will bring considerable benefits.

Jim Cunningham Portrait Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South) (Lab)
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Has the Minister had any discussions with the Secretary of State for Education about the future of Sure Start? The Conservatives, before they were elected, gave a solemn commitment to retain Sure Start, yet in Coventry the cost is being passed on to the local authority.