I DON'T usually write to the Letters Page but recent comments by local Conservatives ignore and misrepresent the core reason behind Labour's ability to increase spending in schools and hospitals.

Worcestershire's unemployment rate fell to just 2.5 per cent in March, an improvement of 0.2 per cent over the month and this time last year. In Redditch there was improvement too, as the claimant count fell to 1,329, a reduction of 24 over the month.

The reduction in unemployment rates is good for those who need to find work and it is good for others who want their tax money to be spent on health and education, not on paying dole cheques in a weak economy.

With Labour, jobs have increased and unemployment fallen, we have the lowest inflation and mortgage rates for years and strength and depth in our economic position.

Because we have sorted out the economy and the national debt, we can now spend much more of every pound paid in tax on the priorities we all have, education and health.

Under the Tories, they paid more in interest on the national debt than they spent on schools. We have reversed that and the key is running the economy well and ending boom and bust.

Jacqui Smith MP

House of Commons

Westminster