Letters to the Editor

SIR - Angelo Bock, an unskilled Namibian national on a three-year work permit, receives 12 years' imprisonment for rape, with a further six years on licenced release.

The Judge states that she has been offered 'the hope and expectation' that the licence period will be pre-empted by deportation.

What I expect is that Mr Bock serves perhaps six to eight years (assuming tolerable behaviour in prison) at a cost to the UK taxpayer in the region of £200,000-£250,000, after which a few more tens of thousands of pounds will be expended processing his inevitable claim for asylum on the grounds that the Namibian authorities might be minded to monitor his activities with typical sub-Saharan vigour.

The probability is that this unemployable menace will be given indefinite leave to remain at permanently ongoing cost to the Exchequer.

If I were a member of the victim's family or friendship circle I would be requiring (not requesting) the Home Secretary to give me an even vaguely plausible reason why an unskilled Namibian national should be in receipt of a UK work permit. It's idiocy such as highlighted by this case which can lead to unfortunately extreme political consequences.

M Pollard, Moorfield Drive, Baildon.

An unfair ban

SIR - I felt I must write in support of florist Mr Hardaker, of James Street, and other traders who display their wares on the pavement.

Providing they stick to the one-metre rule what harm are they doing? It is not fair to impose a blanket ban on all shops because of the few who won't stick to the rules.

You are more likely to trip over an uneven paving slab than one of the displays.

They also brighten up our city centre which is rather dismal at the moment with all the empty shops and building that is going on.

After all, isn't that what Gina Glot said when all the banners were placed on the lamp-posts (T&A, April 23) to celebrate what Bradford has to offer!

M A Coates, Harrogate Road, Eccleshill.

Broken promise

SIR - When people who indulge in criminal activities are finally brought to justice and, in some cases, jailed for a considerable length of time, the one thing they do not have to worry about is paying for their food and lodgings. They are kept by the state - ie, you and me.

However, if you have been an honest and upright citizen, always paid your dues and demands, been thrifty and saved when you could to maintain your home, it does not pay you to fall ill with either senile dementia or Alzheimer's disease.

If you suffer from any other condition you will be cared for by the NHS, but this government, which claimed health care would be free at the point of need, have reneged on that promise by declaring they are not illnesses, although they have been diagnosed by a doctor.

In many cases homes have been sold to pay for care by a government that allows Scotland to benefit from a 'British parliament' and taxpayers who themselves receive no benefit in the cases of the above illnesses. End this anomaly now!

Audrey Raistrick, secretary, Neighbourly Care Bradford, Westgate, Eccleshill.

End this injustice

SIR - I understand the Shipley MP who lost his seat in the last election could collect a lump sum resettlement grant of £28,742 and thousands more from a winding-up grant, possibly £70,000 in all.

A Labour MP for Leeds, who stood down, can also collect thousands, including a resettlement grant of £28,742.

Each MP who stands down or is defeated receives these tax-free payouts. Defeated means there was a no-confidence vote and as such I cannot see why that should be rewarded.

The lump sum mentioned would pay my last pension increase a total of 23,333 times. I have voted for over 50 years,

No wonder we have low turn-outs for elections. We're all dissatisfied with "I'm all right Jack". We must stop all this unfairness. I urge pensioners to campaign for change.

Jean Walker, Chairman, Bradford & District Senior Power, Kentmere, Wrose.

Monorail benefits

SIR - I refer to my previous letter (T&A, May 26) concerning an inner-city monorail system. I expected some comment from the rail lobby and, true to form, they did not let me down.

Although my original letter was a tongue-in-cheek endorsement of a previous correspondent, as a civil engineer I am more than capable of justifying my ideas.

Cost is a relative concept. For instance, what will it cost to flood the city centre, including demolition; filling the underground car park; re-building the Magistrates' Court; diverting services and sewers; waterproofing; filtration; pumping, etc, and all for no practical purpose?

The monorail will very quickly pay for itself. The cost of a heavy cross-city rail link would be exorbitant bearing in mind that the constraints of maximum gradient would mean starting construction in the vicinity of Frizinghall.

As for not encouraging commuters, once again I would argue my case. For example, the journey from the Aire Valley to the university, say, would require one short change within the same building.

The cross-city link between the two stations would require two changes, but this is no more than thousands of London commuters do every day on their underground system.

The published plans for the Broadway development show the rail route will be blocked for the foreseeable future. The monorail system however can pass through the buildings, as indeed they do in many cities throughout the world. In fact, you will recall my suggestion that a station be established within the development.

Eddie Bennett, Duchy Drive, Heaton.

Labour's strengths

SIR - Does N Brown seriously think that Blair and Straw will allow the EU to push us around? We will get what we want on every aspect, trust me, especially with our trump card, the veto.

This "weak and pathetic government" has just won a famous third term, despite all the slander and name-calling. The British people are not stupid, they know good policies when they see them.

Howard and Kennedy don't come close to Blair who is a charismatic and outstanding orator, a statesman who is admired and respected in most of the democratic world.

Even the law-abiding, peaceful, democracy-seeking Iraqis are grateful to Bush and Blair, the only ones (with a little help) who could and did take out the evil sadistic Saddam and his two psychopathic sons.

Who is this party that Mr Brown thinks could have put the "great" back into Great Britain?

He doesn't really say, but I suspect he means the Tories. With their track record? Do me a favour!

Geoff Tasker, Park Road, Low Moor.

Wise energy use

SIR - Your report on the recent environment conference for large companies (T&A June 3) was encouraging though the BT contribution was debatable.

To suggest technology is the only answer, and that those who think nuclear power is not necessarily the way forward hold 'nonsense beliefs', is arrogant, poorly informed and dismissive of the alternatives.

Nuclear power may not produce carbon when up and running but the construction of the plants certainly does. They cost billions to build and to get through the public inquiries, they employ few people and we still haven't found a way of getting rid of the radioactive waste from the current programme, currently more than 100,000 tonnes.

A fraction of the lifetime cost of nuclear power stations spent on developing renewables, insisting that new-build houses have photovoltaic cells and old stock brought up to the highest energy-efficiency standards, would certainly meet our requirements and make us all aware of the need to use energy wisely.

Keith Thomson, Heights Lane, Bradford.