EAST Lancashire parents were today asked to join a campaign against the Government's nursery voucher scheme, which a local MP claims will damage county council provision for four-year-olds.

Hyndburn's Greg Pope wants all parents and all people involved in providing nurseries and playgroups to join the battle against vouchers.

The Labour Education Whip is urging them to sign a petition which will be presented to the Government in a bid to stop the plan to provide a £1,100 voucher for every four-year-old.

Mr Pope said: "I believe the scheme is deeply flawed. Instead of investing in new nursery places, money is being channelled into a costly new bureaucracy.

"£20 million is being spent on administering the scheme, which could provide 16,000 new part-time nursery places for the three-year-olds who are not currently included.

"Here in Lancashire we have an excellent record of providing places for four-year-olds in reception classes or nurseries. The voucher scheme will undoubtedly undermine the county's ability to continue to provide those places."

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