SWINDON'S two Labour MPs welcomed Chancellor Gordon Brown's £90 billion cash bonanza for public services, claiming the town will really notice the difference.
Michael Wills said the comprehensive spending review answers the call from people in his North Swindon constituency for more investment in education, health, transport and the fight against crime.
And South Swindon MP Julia Drown rubbished claims that the Chancellor has thrown away his prudent principles in favour of a spending spree.
Mr Brown's three-year spending plan was revealed in the House of Commons on Monday as the stock markets were crashing on both sides of the Atlantic.
Having already announced an extra £22 billion for the NHS in April, he promised £15 billion more for education, £4.5 billion more for public transport, £3.6 billion more for the criminal justice system and more than £8 billion more for local government.
Mr Wills said: "The spending review signals major investment in Swindon's schools. It means spending per pupil will rise from £2,700 a year in 1997 to £4,900 by 2005-6. This means that since Labour came to power, spending has risen by more than 50 per cent per pupil.
"The significant new investment must now be matched by significant improvements in the delivery of public services."
He welcomed new direct payments to headteachers worth £50,000 for primary schools and £165,000 for secondary school, claiming they would enable Swindon schools to deliver "significantly better performance".
And he praised moves including new health targets to bring waiting lists down, investment in affordable housing and extra police spending to reduce car crime and domestic burglaries.
He added: "This spending review represents major investments in the areas my constituents attach the most importance to education, health, transport and the fight against crime. It is good news for North Swindon."
Ms Drown said the headline grabbers of health and education were pleasing, but also picked out increases in spending on child care and housing as important extras.
She also welcomed the introduction of education maintenance allowances for post-16 students to encourage more children from poorer families to stay in further education.
She said: "These increases in public spending are as much as anyone could have hoped for and we now need to make sure the money is spent properly.
"I admit to being one of the people who has bent Gordon Brown's ear and pushed him to spend more on public services.
"But through all the negotiations and opportunities I've had to pressurise him, there's never been any glint of him wanting to let down his defence and just spend madly."
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