A GOVERNMENT minister claims The University of Bolton is “thriving”, despite 90 jobs being under threat and a fall in student numbers.

During a Commons debate, Bolton West MP Julie Hilling said: “Bolton university is making up to 90 people redundant because of the fall in student numbers, while 60,000 of the young people awarded places at university last year did not turn up.

“Will the minister admit that the tripling of fees has created chaos and will harm the British economy?”

David Willetts, minister for universities and science, pictured, said: “We do not recognise that description of what is going on. We have very enterprising universities, including Bolton, that are thriving as more students get their first choice of university than ever before.

“And, of course, there is no cap on the number of overseas students legitimately entitled to enter the country to study.”