THE blight of unemployment on children has been highlighted by a report into the provision of day care facilities in Bolton.

In wards with the highest unemployment rates - including Deane, Central and Breightmet - the number of places in out of school schemes is among the lowest in the borough.

Cllr Pauline Spencer, education and arts vice-chairman, said: "What these statistics highlight is the appalling high level of unemployment in certain parts of this borough and how this blights the lives of many children.

"This only goes to emphasise the vital importance of state education at every level, a child's right to education should not depend on the financial circumstances of their parents." The report presented to the education and arts Committee highlighted the vast divisions between wards and the provision of nursery education within each of the wards.

"This report simply goes to stress it does not matter how wonderful a strategy we introduce to provide for our pre-school children, we still have the Sword of Damocles hanging over us - the nursery voucher system," said Cllr Linda Thomas.

"This could, if it is implemented, cost this authority up to £2 million. We need to lobby our three MPs and the AMA and express our fears of what the voucher system means to Bolton - that is it could decimate current provision."

Bolton's education authority, in common with others across the country, has already written to the Government opposing the introduction of vouchers into the education system. Cllr Eric Johnson said: "We don't need the voucher system as we have already done the Government's job and made nursery education a priority.

"What they are proposing is to penalise this authority for performing well and doing the job it should have done itself."

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