PLANS to extend the Greater Manchester Metrolink look set to be in Labour's election manifesto, Tony Blair has told the M.E.N.

During our exclusive interview in Downing Street, the Prime Minister said the government's commitment to the proposed extension would be reflected in their plans for the next five years, if they win power at an election expected on May 5.

The planned "big bang" extension of the Metrolink to Rochdale, Oldham, Ashton under Lyne and south Manchester, was rejected by Transport Secretary Alistair Darling when costs spiralled to nearly '1billion.

The M.E.N. campaigned to put the scheme "back on track" and, after a series of meetings, the government agreed to back the scheme, providing costs could be reduced.

The Prime Minister, during a recent visit to the M.E.N. office to answer readers questions, pledged his future support and we asked him if the scheme will be included in Labour's election manifesto.

Mr Blair said: "I can't say what will be in the manifesto yet but I'd be very surprised if it wasn't. We've set aside '520 million for it, which is a lot of money."

In a wide-ranging interview Mr Blair said Education Secretary and Bolton MP Ruth Kelly would announce new guidelines on school meals - and he praised Jamie Oliver for his TV school dinners programme.

Capacity

He said: "The more we learn about nutrition and diet the more important it is, especially for young people, to get breakfast before they go to school, to get fed properly at school, which helps them improve their capacity to learn.

"What Jamie Oliver's done is invaluable. Obviously we've been working closely with him and what he shows is that even with the amount of money put into school meals we can significantly improve the quality.

"If you have school meals that kids want to eat, more of them eat them and if more of them eat them, the economy of scale means you bring the cost down.

"Twenty years ago, if you interviewed professional footballers about diet they'd have looked at you in a strange way. Today the way they live, their diet and nutrition is vital, and it's no different for children."

The PM said he supported the idea of "breakfast clubs" in schools, some of them provided free, but would not give a preview of Ruth Kelly's announcements. He said it would be about how to improve the quality of school meals and the ability of children to eat them.

Mr Blair, who has four children, said: "We want to extend the school day and breakfast clubs will be an important part of that. The value for children is enormous - getting kids to eat breakfast before they go out is one of the most difficult things."

Settlements

Mr Blair was also asked what the government was doing to remove the problem of unauthorised gypsy sites. He said councils were being given the power to remove illegal settlements.

"It's extremely important they use those powers. You can't have a situation where basic civil liberties of people to be free from camp sites that suddenly come onto an area illegally, and that their rights prevail over the people who live in the area," said the Prime Minister.

"They should expect that area to be run according to proper rules of law and that's why we've introduced these new provisions for an immediate stop notice on that development so the council can go to court and get it stopped immediately.

"I can only introduce these powers, I can't force them (councils) to use them," he added.

Asked about mobile phone masts he said they were taking scientific advice on possible health dangers.

"What I'm not going to do in respect of mobile phone masts is to simply say if there's a whole set of front pages that say mobile phones cause this and this, we agree - when scientific evidence doesn't support that.

"Otherwise you alarm people unnecessarily and do a great deal of damage to business and industry."

What do you think of Blair's pledges? Have your say.

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