EDUCATION Under-Secretary, Robin Squires (Letters, May 20) claims that Hyndburn MP Greg Pope is not telling the real story about the expenditure on the nursery voucher scheme. But when exactly has the Government ever been candid about anything?

As recent accounts by headteachers have indicated, budgets are to be slashed because of government cutbacks and, nationally, 6,500 jobs are in peril.

Taken purely on its value, it's not good news for a vitally important government department which accuses an Opposition MP of spinning a fable, is it?

DUNCAN McVEE, Robin Bank Road, Darwen.

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