There have been many comments in your paper about Barnet Council's funding of education. I am writing on behalf of the Liberal Democrat group to clarify what we believe to be the facts. If anyone believes that these facts are incorrect I would welcome that information.

The actual total figures of payment to be paid to Barnet schools over the past two years are as follows:

The Government provided in 1999/2000 £135.9million and in 2000/2001 £143m ,, a total of £278.9m. Barnet actually handed over in 1999/2000 £141.3m and in 2000/2001 £145.1m ,, a total of £286.4m.

If you take £278.9m from £286.4m you see that over two years Barnet spends £7.5m more on Barnet schools than it received from the Government. In each of those years the council, as it has always done, under the Liberal Democrat/Labour administration, gives more than it receives. All the talk of percentage increases are very misleading.

What is clear is that this year the council has been unable to give as much of its own general funds and reserves as previously. The council has not been treated generously by the Government and is short of money to provide all the services that residents quite properly expect.

There is much talk about how much better it would have been if central Government funded our schools direct. Can anyone tell me how they could have been better off if the council had not given them the extra £7.5m?

Councillor Monroe Palmer

Liberal Democrat leader