BACK in November, 2001, we were made aware that the Government policies over teachers' incentive pay awards would have to be paid for from existing Local Education Authority budgets, the so called "top-skimming."

Despite all the denials and the constantly-promised mythical Government money, Education Secretary Charles Clarke is now telling the headmasters to use monies allocated for urgent building repairs.

Even with this unsatisfactory stop-gap, some school heads are being forced to send pupils home due to lack of money to pay teachers.

And I still hear New Labour politicians claiming they have delivered on the six election pledges. So I ask again who do we believe - the politicians or the headmasters?

BRIAN HUNT,

Worcester.