GRAHAM Price calls for evidence of Swindon's MPs doing battle with ministers again and again until they win a fair deal for this town (Letters, September 24).

A battle with ministers is unlikely to encourage the Government to give extra funding to Swindon, however satisfying Mr Price may find it.

That does not mean I have been inactive. Since 1997, I have persistently lobbied ministers for a better deal for Swindon. I have asked the independent House of Commons Library to assess the impact on education funding over that period, and spending is up £600 per secondary school pupil and £516 per primary school pupil.

I also backed calls for overall reform of the SSA. However, I do not believe SSA reform, which among other things reflects deprivation, will result in large sums of new money for a relatively prosperous town like Swindon.

So in addition to my lobbying on the SSA, I have been working on funding for specific projects in my constituency. It was my efforts primarily that secured £57m from the Government for the learning campus in the Northern Sector and £200,000 for St Joseph's to develop their site.

There are no easy answers. Money is an important part of the solution, but reform is also needed.

I shall continue to do everything I can to get the best possible deal from Government and to improve education in the town.

MICHAEL WILLS

MP for North Swindon