IN response to Mr Bob Bibby, (Your Letters, June 1) this local authority did not "pillage" (that is to steal) from the Schools Fund. The combined schools' underspend at the time was £2.4 million. We borrowed, for only one year, £1 million and no school suffered as a result.

With regard to actual funding of schools, there is no doubt they are now better off than under the Tories. Here are the facts:

In their first budget in 1997 the Conservatives actually cut funding for education in Bury;

In the last three years of Conservative government, Bury schools received £147 million;

In the first three years of Labour they received more than £168 million, and in 2000 they also received £1.2 million direct from the Government.

This year our schools will get some £65.5 million, plus another £2 million direct from the Government.

To summarise, over four years the increase will have been 32 per cent plus £3.2 million direct funding.

As for major repairs, new classrooms, new equipment, security etc, again Labour has delivered! The last three years of the Conservatives produced £2.5 million. The first three years of Labour brought £9.3million. This year there is a further £4.2 million.

And what are the Tories promising if elected? A cut in public spending, health, education, police etc, of up to £20 million.

If this is what Mr Bibby yearns for, so be it. But decent folk don't.

COUNCILLOR JOHN BYRNE,

leader of the council.