Coalition’s falsehood

Published: 23 December, 2010

• THE coalition government’s commit­ment to transparency has not survived for long. 

In introducing the “new” early integration grant they have cut funding to local authorities to meet the needs of vulnerable groups whilst proclaim­ing that they have protected funding for disabled children and children’s centres. 

They have done nothing of the sort. Camden’s funding for this grant compared to the grants that it now replaces has been cut by £3.7million – a cut of 22 per cent.  

One of our key aims  is to prioritise spending on vulnerable people.  

We have been particularly careful to maintain provision for disabled children and young people to have the short breaks, funded from this grant.  

However, to balance the budget we have had to make cuts in children’s centres and youth budgets and find other money by making cuts elsewhere. We knew that difficult decisions would have to be taken but it is wrong for the govern­ment to disguise the extent of their cuts whilst leaving local councils to pick up the pieces.

CLLR HEATHER JOHNSON
Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Families