BACK in January, I wrote on behalf of the Worcestershire Parents Forum, to the Schools Minister David Miliband regarding serious discriminatory education funding issues we face in Worcestershire.

At the start of May, as I hadn't received a reply, I wrote again asking for a response.

The following week, I had my original letter, sent four months previously, returned to me unopened.

This is despite it being stamped with a House of Commons post mark (dated January 23, so it definitely arrived there), a used recorded delivery slip (so someone had obviously signed for it), and then, finally, an additional forwarding address label affixed with David Miliband's own constituency address printed on it.

Two days after it was returned, a letter arrived very conveniently from the Dfes, saying that they had not received my original letter and could I send it again (which I have done).

This is at best infuriatingly frustrating, particularly as the very same original letter was also sent to the ODPM, from whom I have also had no reply whatsoever.

Perhaps someone at the Dfes and ODPM would like to give us an explanation?

HELEN DONOVAN,

Evesham.