EXCERPTS

Labour is to promise more help for pre-school children, if re-elected, with increased childcare and resources.

The scheme is the result of a Government report on social exclusion that highlights the effect help for under-fives has on later opportunities in life.

Yvette Cooper, minister in charge of policies to combat social exclusion, said: "If you are looking for an important theme for a third term, you have to think about children first at the beginning of life."

A Cabinet committee chaired by Chancellor Gordon Brown is co-ordinating the Education Department spending review, said to include a cash boost to expand Sure Start, a scheme to help children and parents in underprivileged areas.

- reprinted from the Express on Sunday