Letters to the Editor

This added a tragic irony to how leading councillors and others have been quick to attack Lord Ouseley (T&A, April 25). He complained at how little urgency has been apparent in response to his analysis of related problems underlying Bradford's riots.

Again they prefer to blame the messenger, instead of heeding his vital messages.

For over a decade I have written reports which local decision-makers ignore. It has been clear to anyone who actually lives in the inner city that major steps must be taken urgently.

These must address why sections of local youth acquire no sense of active participation in and identification with our inclusive civic community - and hence no shred of loyalty to it.

My commentary on Ouseley's report also chided him - but for not stressing enough how chronic complacency among local politicians had impeded effective action since the 1995 riots.

Only their full commitment can prevent yet another such tragedy.

Ian Vine, Honorary Senior Research Fellow in Psychology, Department of Interdisciplinary Human Studies, University of Bradford.

SIR - Re your recent letters regarding the Asians fighting for compensation for their years working in the mills.

It is clear that everyone who worked in the mills should be given the opportunity of fighting for compensation. It should make no difference if they have their origins in England, Pakistan, India or even Leeds.

As Bradfordians we should be committed to justice for the people of Bradford, without further conditions.

Anyone looking for help on this basis need look no further.

Marcus Farrar, Bassra Solicitors, 89-93 Manningham Lane, Bradford.

SIR - On a recent TV Panorama programme showing the pros and cons of the NHS, no-one could remember the initiation of the scheme in 1948.

I can - and frankly, the NHS never stood a chance of paying its way from the word go.

If I remember correctly, a ten-shilling (50p) contribution (average wage of £5-6pw) was imposed. A "kitty" for 12 months was imposed to fund the service.

Free glasses and dental treatment were, I suppose, most appealing to most of us.

But the doctors and dentists of the old school wouldn't fall in line with the Labour government and many did their best to throw a spanner in the works.

So much of the treatment given was always on the extravagant side - everyone loving it, but at a price.

Funds were found wanting, and serious damage was done to the government's reputation which I think applied to both parties, Tories insisting help from us all would have to be found with our now-escalating expectancy of the familiar round of increase in taxation.

The dream of a cornucopia for ailments for young and old sadly never was.

Kenneth E Higgins, Carr Bottom Grove, Little Horton, Bradford.

SIR - I am glad Abdullah Khan has given me a chance to explain myself (Letters, March 18).

This is a racist society. Institutional racism exists in every and each organisation/office, and the judicial system or the people working within/for it are not exceptional.

However, it doesn't mean that all people are racist. Moreover, no-one is perfect and consciously and unconsciously we all do things sometimes which we shouldn't and sometimes regret it.

Furthermore, we live in a democratic society and have a right to demand equal rights. However, Pakistan is not a democratic country, and we cannot expect it to act like one. I live here, not in Pakistan.

We should compare this country with other democratic countries. Unfortunately, we follow America blindly in everything they do.

Mubarik Iqbal, Oulton Terrace, Bradford 7.

SIR - Regarding the report (T&A, April 20) about stone stolen from a Guiseley school. I hope they have more luck with their policing of the situation than we had.

At the start of the Easter weekend, my son and daughter-in-law had nine Yorkshire stone flagstones removed from the entrance to their home. The perpetrators were questioned by a neighbour, who gave some excuse about having been requested.

They proceeded to remove the stones before driving off. The witness recorded the description of the three thieves, the type, model and registration number of the car used, and the direction they went in.

On telephoning the police, my son received a crime number and was told that the matter would be assigned to an officer. When my son explained the situation - that they could probably still be in the area and could be apprehended - he was told that as it was a Bank Holiday weekend, there was no officer available to deal with the matter and it would be dealt with in due course.

To this date, four weeks later, they are still waiting for any contact from the police. No wonder crime pays!

Mrs Sheila Oldcorn, Halifax Road, Bradford.

SIR - Something has come to my attention which may be of interest to all your readers who are in receipt of Council Tax Benefit and Housing Benefit.

I have a disabled relative who lives alone and receives both these benefits. At the beginning of each financial year, he receives written notification of what these amounts are to be and the duration of the payments, ie to the end of March. The council form stating the amount of rent rebate stated that the amount was for 48 weeks' payments (apparently rent is payable for 48 out of 52 weeks in the year.

The relative received a letter from the Benefits Service dated February 26 informing him that his Council Tax Rebate and Rent Rebate has been cancelled from February 25, leaving a shortfall of five weeks when full rates had to be paid. When he asked why, he was told they were busy calculating the benefits for the coming financial year.

This is nothing sort of daylight robbery. If claimants were able to afford to pay their rent and taxes in full, they wouldn't be getting rebates in the first place.

Mrs J. Taylor, Leeds Road, Thackley, Bradford.

l A Council spokesman said: "The Benefits Service reviews all claims at regular intervals. The vast majority of such claims are dealt with swiftly and efficiently without any break in entitlement. Regrettably, due to incomplete information provided by the claimant, there was a delay in processing this claim. However, regulations do not allow local authorities to restart such claims until all the required information has been received and checked. The outstanding matters in this case have now been resolved and benefit reinstated with no break in entitlement."

SIR - Given the environmental damage caused by motor vehicles and recent studies showing that motorists will not quit no matter what the financial cost, has the love of the car replaced the love of money as the root of all evil?

Bob Jowett, Idle Road, Bradford 2

SIR - Re the Ofsted report concerning Bradford Cathedral Community College. Once again the T&A reports the bad side of the school.

I would like to say that, as a parent of one of the pupils who attends the above school, we can see a change in the school and know for a fact that everybody is working very hard to make the school a better one, from the headteacher down to the pupils.

For goodness sake, Rome was not built in a day and I know that the school has had a lot of building work carried out and work is still being done.

So please give them a chance. Give them support and encouragement to make it the best school in Bradford instead of it being the worst as it has been reported.

The teachers are all willing, as well as the pupils to turn the school around and make it a success.

G Parsons, Peel Park Terrace, Undercliffe.