COUNTY hall chiefs have hit back at Government claims they are not spending enough on the county's schools.

Education Secretary David Blunkett wrote to the council leader John West saying more should be spent on schools after a meeting with MPs from the county.

But Councillor West says the county council is already spending £22million more than the recommended government level on education and any further rise would mean two or three per cent extra on council tax.

And he says he plans to write an angry letter to Mr Blunkett telling him MPs have misinformed him.

He said: "The fact is that last year we took £6million out of our balances for education. That was a top up, a one off that we haven't got this year.

"But we are still substantially above the government's recommended levels of spending and we will be pressing ahead with our budget.

"If we have to spend any more on education in the next council year then the council tax will have to go up a further two or three per cent."

"It is a pity that the minister has been misinformed in this way by the MPs."

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