I'M sorry Helen Donovan and Conservative councillor Adrian Hardman believe I'm blaming teachers for any lack of cash in our schools ('It's not the teachers to blame, Mr Foster", Thursday, May 22).

May I respectfully suggest she reads what I said about welcoming the higher pay and increased numbers of teachers in Worcestershire.

I'm afraid that she has fallen foul of the spin that flows from local Conservative councillors and MPs.

Can I suggest that if she wants the truth, then she sits down with me and has a discussion about the realities of school funding in the county.

I have no problems explaining to her where improvements can be made - by both the Government and local council. She may learn a few things that her Tory informants have not made public.

For the record, I do support a change to the Area Cost Adjustment formula, and have been working with the Conservative-controlled county council to this end, including Coun Hardman himself.

Last week, I spent several hours at County Hall with senior managers discussing how to take forward this campaign.

But it seems cross-party work with Tory councillors goes out of the window when a cheap political point can be made.

I suggest that both Helen Donovan and Coun Hardman ask schools what has happened to their funding since 1997.

They should look at the investment in classrooms, computers and, yes, teachers and teaching assistants.

Then they should look at the situation between 1992 and 1997 and ask the simple question: Are schools better off now than then?

MICHAEL FOSTER,

Worcester MP,

House of Commons,

Westminster.