FEWER people are dying of cancer and heart disease in Kirklees since Labour came to power, Huddersfield's MP claims.

Record investment in the NHS has resulted in a drop in the death rates from cancer and heart disease, Barry Sheerman says.

Mr Sheerman, founder of the Associate Parliamentary Health Group said: "Improving healthcare has been a major goal of the Labour government and this report confirms we are hitting our targets.

"This is great news for the NHS in Huddersfield."

Figures for the Kirklees Council area, supplied by Mr Sheerman, showed:

* The cancer mortality rate for under 75-year-olds dropped from 143.23 per 100,000 in 1995/97 to 132.33 in 2001/02.

* The mortality rate for heart and circulatory disease dropped from 165.75 per 100,000 in 1995/97 to 121.67 in 2001/02.

Mr Sheerman revealed that GPs in Huddersfield Central Primary Care Trust would receive an 18.74% rise in budget over this and the next financial year, amounting to £22.8m.

And he pointed out that no people were waiting for a hospital operation in Huddersfield for longer than nine months.