HEALTH minister Alan Milburn has said that he cannot give an "absolute assurance" that Bolton will get more cash from the budget.

This is despite Mr Milburn revealing in the House of Commons that he was aware of Bolton's high death rates, adding: "I recognise that the area has its fair share of problems."

The minister was responding to pressure by Bolton South East MP Brian Iddon who pleaded with Mr Milburn in Parliament for more money for the town.

The Labour MP, arguing that Bolton was suffering from years of under funding which needed to be solved, said that Bolton was six per cent below its health cash target this year.

He said: "Bolton has welcomed considerable amounts of money that we have received for our health service and our social services department, but a problem remains."

"A letter that I received this week from the Under-Secretary revealed that the new primary care trust began its work 6.2 per cent away from target funding."

Mr Milburn said: "As I have said before, I cannot give an absolute assurance for Bolton, but I recognise that the area has its fair share of problems, with high levels of morbidity and deep health inequalities.

"Our new formula for distributing the growing NHS resources is designed to address such problems."