TORY MPs have criticised Mike Foster's claims that Worcestershire's schools are £10m better off than in 1997.

Worcester MP Mr Foster, a Parliamentary aide in the education department, said that in the six years since Labour came to power, primary school budgets had risen by 48 per cent, or £739 per pupil in Worcester, and secondary school ones by 60 per cent, or £738 per pupil.

"These figures show how much extra cash is going into our schools. I know teachers, parents and governors welcome it," said Mr Foster.

"The cash has been used to recruit and retain staff who in turn have helped drive up standards. Results in our local schools are now better than ever.

"I know parents will be interested in seeing the figures. The facts speak for themselves - schools in Worcester are better off now than they have ever been."

Mid-Worcestershire Tory MP Peter Luff said he did not dispute Mr Foster's figures - but he was missing the point made by cash-strapped schools.

In 1997, each Worcestershire pupil - between the ages of three and 19 - was "worth" £2,380 to the county, and by this year the figure had risen £920, to £3,300.

However, over the same period, pupils in Gloucestershire have gained £1,050 - from £2,340 to £3,390 - and their counterparts in Warwickshire receive an extra £1,140 - from £2,270 to £3,410.

"While funding in Worcestershire has increased, Gloucestershire and Warwickshire have been getting even more," said Mr Luff.

"The fundamental problem remains that when we get an increase, the one given to other areas is larger.

"Mike is trying to boast about Labour's achievements without recognising other counties have done better."

And Sir Michael Spicer, MP for West Worcestershire, said it was a distraction tactic from Mr Foster.

"It is a planned move to take people's minds off the matter at hand," he said.

"The issue is a question of funding and the differences between authorities, and in Worcestershire we do not get value for money.

"I fully support the fact that education funding has increased, but we have to address why it has not gone up at the same rate as other authorities."

Next Tuesday, Education Secretary Charles Clarke will give his first indication of what schools can expect next year.