A LEADING councillor claims Bolton's pupils are losing out, despite a good cash deal from the Government for education.

Deputy Conservative leader John Walsh has calculated how much money has been allocated for each pupil's education in Greater Manchester -- and found that Bolton pupils get one of the lowest.

The price of spending on education for a primary pupil in the town is £2,607. In Manchester itis £3,316, in Rochdale it is £2,721 and Salford spends £2,732.

Moving up to secondary school, pupils in Bolton are behind again, each getting £3,316 spent on their education. In Manchester this figure is £4,016, in Rochdale it is £3,472 and in Salford £3,542. Last year's figures show that Bolton was again lower than the rest.

"We start from the lower level yet all those others get a greater increase as well. We are not even catching up," said Cllr Walsh.

"Bolton claims it is doing well from the Government with education funding, but it is doing less well than other local authorities in the area. All pupils should get the same."

But Cllr Guy Harkin, deputy leader of Bolton Council, said this year's figure was a 20 per cent rise and good news.

"In any one year we will always do better than some authorities and worse than others," said Cllr Harkin.

Cllr Linda Thomas, Executive member for Education, said other authorities have higher levels of deprivation in their areas.

"We have to accept that those authorities will need more money in the meantime," she added.