THE position that the Government and Worcester's MP Mike Foster have taken with education spending in the county is indefensible.

They have given Worcestershire children a settlement that continues to widen the gap between Worcestershire and other shire counties by a further four per cent. At the same time, by not continuing the transition grant, while waiting for the new fairer funding formula, they have increased this gap to 1:1 per cent in this year's settlement alone.

The arguments that where deployed last year are just as valid. The Government should have not have delayed fairer funding to our schools.

But, having done so, it should make a transitional grant to the children of Worcestershire of £2.5m to ensure that the county's relative position to other counties remains the same, while it resolves what it intends to do.

COUN ADRIAN HARDMAN,

Cabinet Member for Resources,

Worcestershire County Council.