Tonge: A Sure Start

1.15.20pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 22nd Oct 2003

Jenny Tonge MP at the Opening

Jenny Tonge, Liberal Democrat MP for Richmond Park, welcomed Baroness Ashton of Upholland to the opening of two new nursery schools in Richmond on Tuesday October 21st.

The nurseries, which are run by Asquith's, have been built as part of the Private Finance Initiative with Jarvis plc at Riverside Primary School in Kew and Marshgate Primary School in Queen's Road, Richmond.

Welcoming Baroness Ashton, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Early Years, the MP said: "I'm sure many of you will be surprised to learn that politicians of different parties can agree about anything! But I am wholly supportive of the Government's Sure Start initiative, which I hope will lead to the opening of many more facilities like this one."

"We've got a long way to go before we can catch up with France, which provides nursery and child care for every parent who wants it, and at an affordable price, but this is a good start."

Dr Tonge later said she will arrange to meet with Councillor Hilary Smith, the Cabinet Member with responsibility for Early Years in the London Borough of Richmond, to discuss nursery and child-care provision in the Richmond Park constituency.