IT IS less than two years ago that the present Tory administration at County Hall tried, yet again, to spend less than the Standard Spending Assessment per pupil. Parents, teachers, governors and Mr Blunkett protested in order to get pupils a fair share of the Council's expenditure.

It was largely past deliberate underspending which resulted in the low assessment to which the Tories now seem to be objecting. Their misguided policy has now come home to roost, yet they complain about counties which chose to spend more per pupil than them, and maintain it isn't fair.

MARGARET TAYLOR,

Wiltshire County Councillor Labour.