BOLTON Institute chief Mollie Temple is calling on ministers to end months of speculation and decide whether the college should be awarded university status before a general election.

Ms Temple first spoke out about the issue at the Institute's annual award ceremony last year when she called on the Government to end elitism by granting them university status.

The final decision rests with the Privy Council, which has yet to speak about the issue. It has been rumoured that Bolton had been earmarked for rejection because ministers had recommended refusal.

Ms Temple told the BEN that it was important to wait for the right decision but said they would like to know soon -- preferably before a general election.

She said: "We have heard nothing in recent weeks about our application for university status and we do not know when the Privy Council will meet to discuss it. We would like the right decision for the Institute which would be a huge bonus for the town and we would like this decision to be made before the country votes in a general election."

Ms Temple re-iterated the need for the whole town to support the Institute in its bid to be called a university.

"We have had lots of support from business, the council and the town's politicians," she said. "We would hope that the prospective parliamentary candidates from the different parties are also behind us on this."

While university status would bring no extra money into the town directly, it would help to raise Bolton's profile.

Bolton South-east MP Dr Brian Iddon said he still continues to play the waiting game over the Privy Council's decision, despite lobbying Education Secretary David Blunkett and Chief Whip Ann Taylor over the issue.

"The Privy Council have had the decision in their hands since last June," said Dr Iddon. "We would have expected a decision before now and I have been to Mr Blunkett to complain about the way we have been treated.

"Under the old system, colleges applying for the status would be assessed by the Quality and Assurance Agency. Bolton has undergone this and the scrutiny by the Privy Council, so despite the old system being abolished our's is the only institution to have undergone both."

He added: "I do not know when they will meet to discuss the application further. It's all very secret.

"We have done all we can to make the case with the Privy Council, which included the council, Bolton and Bury Chamber of Commerce, the Training and Enterprise Council and the MPs for the area. All we can do now is wait to see what they will decide." BOLTON Institute chief Mollie Temple is calling on ministers to end months of speculation and decide whether the college should be awarded university status before a general election.

Ms Temple first spoke out about the issue at the Institute's annual award ceremony last year when she called on the Government to end elitism by granting it university status.

The final decision rests with the Privy Council, which has yet to speak about the issue. It has been rumoured that Bolton had been earmarked for rejection because ministers had recommended refusal.

Ms Temple told the BEN that it was important to wait for the right decision but said they would like to know soon -- preferably before a general election.

She said: "We have heard nothing in recent weeks about our application for university status and we do not know when the Privy Council will meet to discuss it. We would like the right decision for the Institute which would be a huge bonus for the town and we would like this decision to be made before the country votes in a general election."

Ms Temple re-iterated the need for the whole town to support the Institute in its bid to be called a university.

"We have had lots of support from business, the council and the town's politicians," she said. "We would hope that the prospective parliamentary candidates from the different parties are also behind us on this."

While university status would bring no extra money into the town directly, it would help to raise Bolton's profile.

Bolton South-east MP Dr Brian Iddon said he still continues to play the waiting game over the Privy Council's decision, despite lobbying Education Secretary David Blunkett and Chief Whip Ann Taylor.

"The Privy Council have had the decision in their hands since last June," said Dr Iddon. "We would have expected a decision before now and I have been to Mr Blunkett to complain about the way we have been treated.

Abolished

"Under the old system, colleges applying for the status would be assessed by the Quality and Assurance Agency. Bolton has undergone this and the scrutiny by the Privy Council, so despite the old system being abolished our's is the only institution to have undergone both."

He added: "I do not know when they will meet to discuss the application further. It's all very secret.

"We have done all we can to make the case with the Privy Council, which included Bolton council, Bolton and Bury Chamber the Training and Enterprise Council and the local MPs. All we can do is wait to see what is decided."