THE massive building programme in local schools is nearing completion, although there will be continuing works through the autumn.

Given this, I was delighted to read the Director of Education's comments in the press last week promising that standards would improve because of the steps the county council is taking in the town's schools.

I hope the county council lives up to the director's promise and ensure that the money raised from shutting schools in Redditch will be spent in the town.

The results this summer, while a credit to pupils and teachers, show there is room for improvement in all high schools.

The Government is doing its bit. Reforms to the unfair funding system are in the pipeline and the Education White Paper was published last week.

New laws will build on the successes at primary level, where satisfactory standards for English for 11 year olds rose from 57 per cent to 75 per cent and, for maths, from 54 per cent to 72 per cent between 1996 and 2000.

l This week, I met local health representatives, GPs, trust managers and user groups.

The issues they raised were wide ranging, from the formation of new management structures for delivering health care to parking arrangements at the Alexandra Hospital.

There was good news about more investment in critical care beds, a crche and heart unit at the Alex too.

One disappointment that came to light was the slight decline in MMR vaccine takeup in Worcestershire.

Given the risks involved in extending any vaccination process, it is not sensible to offer mixed advice on this issue.

The annual report of Worcestershire Health Authority issued in July sets out the benefits and risks quite clearly.

For instance, if a mother contracts rubella in the first 10 weeks of pregnancy, there is a 90 per cent chance of the baby being damaged and mumps, in pre-vaccination times, was the most common cause of viral meningitis.

I hope anyone who has concerns on this issue will talk seriously to a GP and listen carefully to the advice given.