I AM greatly concerned about the gross misrepresentation contained in the last paragraph of your editorial on October 30, concerning dancer Sophie Molloy.

It suggests that the decision of the county council not to provide financial support to Sophie was as a result of the consideration of irrelevant factors.

The publication of material which suggests that the county council might have acted improperly is something about which I must take issue.

Within the North West of England there are 17 local education authorities. Of these 11 are, in principle, prepared to support performing arts courses at private colleges. Lancashire is the only authority which guarantees to pay full fees for a successful applicant.

All other education authorities either apply a monetary or percentage ceiling or, alternatively refuse fee support once a cash-limited budget has been fully expended.

Sophie has been supported by the county council at Elmhurst Ballet School since the age of 11. The decision to provide her with support under those arrangements was part of a scheme to assist pupils aged between 11 and 16 years.

Her parents were aware that there was no guarantee of support for Sophie beyond the age of 16 and in August 1994 sought clarification from the county council about the provision of financial support for Sophie in her post-16 education.

The family were aware, 12 months ago, that support could not be automatically continued. They appealed, but Sophie remained in 14th place of priority.

There is no evidence to suggest that the county council has a political bias against helping the gifted thrive in an independent school.

Equally, there is no evidence to suggest that the council council would seek to treat a student in a different manner from any other student based on geographical factors.

HAZEL HARDING (Vice-chairman county education committee, County Hall, Preston.

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