A SHADOW is still hanging over 400 jobs linked to specialist education for pupils from ethnic minorities in Lancashire.

The Government announced earlier this month that £42 million worth of funding for education for Asian pupils is to be extended for a year.

But Whitehall chiefs have still to make a decision on the long-term future of the project.

Around £6 million will be spent on education for ethnic minority pupils in Lancashire over the next 12 months.

And most of the work funded under the scheme called section 11 is based in East Lancashire.

More than 18,000 people benefit from the grants in Lancashire and County Council leaders have written to Home Secretary Jack Straw and education minister David Blunkett calling for a decision as soon as possible.

Education chairman Stan Wright said: "There were considerable delays from the previous Government about making an announcement on section 11.

"Understandably, this caused distress to more than 400 staff working for the project and for some 18,000 whose needs the project is designed to meet."

The last announcement from the previous government confirming that the scheme would continue for another year came so late talks with the unions about redundancy packages were already under way.

Blackburn's MP has contacted County Hall and has promised them the situation will be sorted out as soon as possible.

Mr Straw said: "The Prime Minister has emphasised the importance that the Government attaches to the activities funded by the section 11 grant funds, which he has described as an investment for the future.

"We hope to complete a spending review as soon as possible so we can let the county council know what the future position will be."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.