Government pledges £500,000 to national centre for stammering children

The announcement comes on the day the Prince of Wales hosts a Clarence House reception to celebrate the work of supporters of the Michael Palin Centre for Stammering Children.

Mr Balls' department has now given 1 million in total to the national fund-raising initiative that aims to develop services across the country for youngsters with the speech problem, including providing a new centre in the north of England.