PETER Luff has clashed with Ministers over a campaign by Labour MPs to win extra funding for Worcestershire schools.

The Conservative MP told a Commons debate on the county's education funding crisis that a letter campaign by Mike Foster and Jacqui Smith was "mistaken".

He said it was "too party political by far" and ignored the efforts made by parents, teachers and governors to win extra cash for the county.

The letters were sent to schools for parents to sign and send back, asking Ministers to make additional funding available to Worcestershire while the "unfair" education funding formula, which leaves local schools strapped for cash, is being changed.

It was introduced by the Tories 10 years ago, but Labour has said it will not be changed until 2003.

"These letters wrongly put all the blame on the last Conservative government," said Mr Luff. "They don't explain the real problem isn't just the formula, but its extended life. It could and should have been put out of its misery years ago.

"The letter also claims all the credit for the extra funding won last year should go to the county's Labour MPs. It ignores huge efforts made by local headteachers, the thousands of letters from governors and parents, and the tidal wave of general opinion."

Junior Education Minister Ivan Lewis described Mr Luff's comments as "amazingly bizarre".

He said Mr Foster and Ms Smith would have been "failing in their duty" to constituents if they had not sent the letters.

Mr Lewis claimed Mr Luff was "embarrassed" by the campaign and that he was following on its "tail end".

During the debate, Mr Luff outlined the way local youngsters were suffering because of the formula.

He pointed out the average amount spent per secondary school pupil in Worcestershire was £3,011, compared with £3,156 for similar shire counties.

He asked if the Government was going to make extra cash available to schools this year and how long it would take to introduce the new formula.

Mr Lewis said it was too early to state whether there would be additional funding to help the county through the next 12 months.

Afterwards, Mr Luff claimed Mr Lewis completely failed to give any indication of how the new formula would work, or over what period it would be introduced.

"I've therefore tabled urgent written questions on these two issues," he said. "Unless the formula is genuinely fairer, and unless it's introduced quickly, and not phased in over years, the discrimination against Worcestershire will carry on."

Worcester MP Mr Foster said Mr Lewis' defence had been "robust" and that was why Mr Luff had not enjoyed the debate.