Diana Johnson, Labour MP for Kingston upon Hull North, said the cuts were reminiscent of an episode of the political comedy 'Yes Minister' from 30 years ago entitled 'Compassionate Society' in which the minister visits a hospital with 500 administrators but no doctors, nurses or patients.
Public services union Unison said that Hull council is keeping all of its children's centres open because it would be forced to pay back the funding used to build the settings if they were to close. However, around 13 of them will become 'satellite' centres and will not directly deliver services.
According to Unison, funding for Hull's children's centres has been cut by 50 per cent and only 46 out of 244 staff will be keeping their jobs.
During education questions in the House of Commons last week with education secretary Michael Gove, Ms Johnson said, 'Hull's cuts of £70 per child in children's services means that 13 out of the 20 children's centres in Hull will effectively be mothballed, and staffed only by a receptionist and a cleaner.
'I am sure you recall Jim Hacker's visit in "Yes Minister" to the hospital that had no patients in it. On the same basis, would you like to visit the children's centres in my constituency that have no children in them?'
Mr Gove replied that local authorities had been given enough money in the Early Intervention Grant to maintain the children's centre network.
Speaking to Nursery World, Ms Johnson said, 'The money that Hull has received from the Early Intervention Grant is significantly less than from previous funding streams.
'Also, childcare providers from the private sector have told me that children who are currently receiving additional, council-funded support for things like behavioural problems and learning difficulties are to have this support withdrawn completely from 1 April. This will affect 500 children, and it means that a lot of the support and training that has been built up will just disappear.'