REGARDING Derek Smith's letter (You Say, Friday, October 15) about school budgets, they may be going up - but unfortunately, due to the increases being given on a percentage basis of their existing funding, those who have most already, gain most for a second time when any increase is given.

Back in 1997, the cash gap between the English average and the Worcestershire payment per child per year was £130 less.

Now it stands at three times that amount, each child receiving a huge £390 per year less than the national average.

Not exactly a good advert for a political party voted in on an "education, education, education" pledge (especially not if your children go to school in Worcestershire).

This is at the same time as schools in Worcestershire are having to absorb the same national costs as schools across the country and ever-increasing costs for equipment and so on.

As a parent, I'm not interested in whose fault it was, is, or may be. I'm only concerned with getting this appalling discrimination corrected, so that our children receive a fair slice of the funding cake.

HELEN DONOVAN,

Evesham.