I WRITE in response to your article on January 4 concerning yet another survey by the Liberal Democrats.

In the first week of this year, they claim to have sent out a survey to all GPs in the area and are now sending out 30,000 surveys to homes in Ryedale.

This comes on the back of endless local surveys that ask questions to which everyone already knows the answers.

It is claimed that the latest round are part of their campaign for 'better healthcare'.

In reality, it is a smoke-screen for a lack of policies and an attempt to deflect attention from the huge improvements and investment made in the NHS by the Labour Government.

Improving the NHS is a long process, but here in North Yorkshire we have concrete evidence of progress. A new accident and emergency department in York, extra beds in Scarborough and in this financial year, the North Yorkshire District Health Authority received a cash increase of nine per cent and next year will have a real-term increase of 5.5 per cent.

In addition, NHS Direct has been extended to North Yorkshire and a walk-in centre has been opened in York.

There is still a lot to do, but more doctors and nurses are being trained for the future.

Labour is listening to the needs of people locally but it is also putting in a huge investment. This is bringing short-term improvement and laying the foundation for a modern and high-quality service for the future.

David Ellis,

Labour Parliamentary Spokesperson,

Abbotsway,

Muncaster, York.

Updated: 11:03 Tuesday, January 16, 2001