SIR - It's a pity Mike Layland's sudden interest in housing isn't backed up by his voting record on the city council. He always votes with the Tories (no wonder they aren't putting a candidate up against him) and his views always support their policies of doing nothing about housing.

What are the facts? Worcester Community Housing is contracted to pay to the city council £7 million from the sale of former council houses. To date, more than £5 million has been paid to the city council and even less spent on housing.

Mike Layland compares the situation to when Labour was in control, the dark days of Thatcher, when councils were only allowed to spend 50 per cent of housing capital receipts on housing.

The new Labour government scrapped those restrictions yet our Tory council continues to ignore the need to spend money in partnership with housing associations.

ROGER BERRY (COUNCILLOR), Gorse Hill, Worcester.