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 past deliberate underspending which has largely resulted in the low assessment to which the Tories now seem to be objecting.

Their misguided policy has now come home to roost and yet they complain about the counties which chose to spend more per pupil than they did and maintain it isn't fair.

MARGARET TAYLOR

Wiltshire County Councillor, Labour

Parkfields, Devizes