Early years’ services and childcare benefit from spending review

The government will invest an extra £769 million in early
years’ services and child care by 2007-2008, chancellor
Gordon Brown has announced, writes Sally
Gillen.

In his spending review for 2005-2008, Brown said the money would
be used to implement the five-year education strategy, launched
last week. In addition, 2,500 children’s centres will be
created by 2007-2008 and a pilot scheme offering a part-time
education place for 12,000 two-year-olds in disadvantaged areas
will be established.

By 2007-2008 1,960 civil service jobs will be cut within the
Department for Education and Skills, and 800 posts will be
relocated out of London and the south east by 2010.

Councils will be given a two-year £80 million fund to
provide alarms for 160,000 vulnerable older people and an extra
£1.8 billion will be made available in 2007-2008 for delayed
discharges. It is also providing £60 million for Extra Care
housing as an alternative to residential care.

The Department of Health will lose 720 civil servant posts and
arms-length bodies will cut 5,000 jobs.