TONY BLAIR has congratulated East Lancashire's Derian House Children's Hospice's on its tenth anniversary -- and promised to back a local MP's plea for extra cash for hospices.

The issue was raised at Prime Minister's Question Time by Chorley MP Lindsay Hoyle who had already put down a special Commons motion on the issue.

His campaign has also been backed by Ribble Valley Tory Nigel Evans, Burnley MP Peter Pike, Hyndburn MP Greg Pope, Pendle's Gordon Prentice, and Rossendale and Darwen's Janet Anderson.

Mr Hoyle said that the hospice and its counterparts were urgently in need of extra money and asked the Prime Minister to give a Government pledge to providing additional cash from NHS funds. The Prime Minister said he was happy to congratulate Derian House on its decade of service and said that NHS funds for hospices were under review.

He pledged to take account of Mr Hoyle's view.

In his Early Day Motion on the Commons Order Paper -- Parliament's daily agenda sent to all Ministers, MPs and senior civil servants -- Mr Hoyle recognises "the magnificent dedication and time people give to raising the necessary funds so that Derian House can offer its high quality care and calls on the Government to increase the amount of funding through the National Health Service to hospices so that facilities and services can be further improved at hospices throughout the United Kingdom". Agreeing with the motion, Mr Pope said: "Derian House provides an invaluable service to children and parents throughout East Lancashire. I am delighted at its anniversary and the Prime Minister's remarks. I do hope that extra NHS funding can be found for it and other hospices across the UK.''

Peter Pike added: "I am delighted at the success of Derian House which is a vital service to families in Burnley and throughout the county.

"I support efforts to get extra money for hospice services across Britain."And Mr Evans added: "Derian House has made huge difference to families in East Lancashire. The NHS should provide the money they need.''