SIR - Men's social security benefits ought to be increased by 250 per cent. The reason? The blatant discrimination against male job applicants in today's employment market engineered by employers, many of whom are male themselves.

As a long-term unemployed man myself, I am convinced that my continuing unemployment is due to my gender. In her T&A Voice of Youth column (April 17) Amina Shah wrongly questions the truth that women are taking over from men at work.

Amina also expresses her dismay that the number of women MPs has fallen in Westminster, and said there should be more than 300 female MPs.

In Scandinavian countries where more than half the MPs are female, men have helplessly seen their civil rights eroded. Is it any coincidence those countries also have the highest male suicide rate?

The big rise in male social security payments should be paid for through high taxation of full-time female workers, and employers whose workforce make up more than 50 per cent women. Perhaps then we will see true work place equality take effect.

What gives these people the right to exclude me from employment and keep me on the breadline just because I am male?

Carl Smith, Peel House, Bingley.

SIR - I am obliged to Ms Murbarik Iqbal (T&A Letters, April 10) for explaining that western countries are uncivilised and are waging war against Muslims.

Before, I thought that the destruction of the World Trade Centre, suicide bombings, shooting Christians in their church and the Bradford riots were acts of barbarism directed against civilisation. I can now see that democracy, justice, freedom of worship, and sex equality are uncivilised, and I look forward to a more civilised future of intolerance, oppression, and violence.

With luck, we could get this all installed in time to be Capital of Culture 2008.

L Hobsbaum, Willow Crescent, Bradford.

SIR - I was talking to some young people recently who are approaching their first vote for the local council elections. They asked me as a previous voter what they should base their voting on.

I told them that the parties-elect would give the voters a manifesto so that they could vote for the party that would give them the options that they feel most strongly about.

I was very surprised at their reaction to this last statement.

I was asked why there are such places as "no-go" areas, why people are prisoners in their own homes, why when people commit lots of crimes and are taken to court they get no separate penalties.

They asked: "What about my parents who scrimped and saved to buy a car that got stolen and burnt out? What about insurance companies that won't insure premises and vehicles in Bradford? What about muggings and car-jacking?"

I felt terrible that I had let these youngsters down because I had voted in the people to run Bradford Council who had allowed all these things to happen.

Derek Wright, Westbury Street, Bradford 4.

SIR - The indigenous elderly walk through Keighley's Lund Park in absolute terror. The bowlers are in decline for obvious reasons, and dog walkers have stiff necks looking over their shoulders.

This is all down to gangs of Asian youths running amok. It is akin to tribal warfare and territory identity. And the elderly are on the point of conceding defeat, while the police make the usual noises but do nothing.

We all know that there are some wonderful Keighley Asians who are deeply hurt and embarrassed by these youths. It is up to these fine people to sort the mayhem out, given the police's apathy.

These respectable townsfolk have the influence to police the situation if the will is there.

Firstly find out who these youths are. It isn't too difficult given the close Asian community. Appeal to the parents and relations, and the local mosque leader to administer a little guidance, or better still discipline.

Surely it is in the interests of the latter to prevent these youths besmirching a sacred religion! Indeed, it is in the interests of all fair-minded Asians to rally round and sort the miscreants out.

Ivan Sadiwink, Southlands Road, Riddlesden.

SIR - In T&A Letters (April 13), Mr Stephen Walsh wrongly attacks Mr S Barker for comments about the transfer to Bradford Community Housing Trust. Mr Barker's letter was about an entirely different matter.

Peter A Rushforth, Sutton Drive, Cullingworth.

l EDITOR'S NOTE: The letter Mr Walsh wrongly attributed to Mr Barker was in fact from Mr B Harrison. We apologise for allowing this error through.

SIR - In response to the Venerable Guy Wilkinson's letter (T&A, April 12) about secondary school provision for the young people of Ravenscliffe.

Although Immanuel College is not currently full and, therefore, there are no exclusive catchment boundaries applicable, it is a tiny bit disingenuous to suggest that Ravenscliffe children can rely upon the school being an available option once the "50 per cent Christian family" quota is achieved, or after the laudable attempt to achieve wider ethnic mixing comes to fruition via an extension of Immanuel's "associated primary" network.

At least at primary level there are messages of hope for Ravenscliffe. Holybrook Primary is winning widespread respect as a beacon of good practice in challenging circumstances, as evidenced by its recent DfES achievement award.

M Pollard, (parent governor representative, Bradford Schools Admission Forum), Moorfield Drive, Baildon.

SIR - I must speak out about the suicide bombers. Both Israel and Palestine people believe in God, so why don't they fear God?

They know the commandment, Thou shall not kill. God tells us this because "we " cannot bring to life again, only god and his true prophets can bring life again through his spirit.

These children who are giving their lives up are going down the wrong path. Their teachers are telling them they are some kind of heroes, and their parents are proud of them. It's a mockery to the Lord God, this is not a making of a God, but a Devil, the evil spirit that knows he only has a short time left on this earth until the Lord sets up his Kingdom here.

Jesus said to the people (that were weeping for him) "Weep not for me, but weep for your children, and yourselves" when he was carrying his cross. He knew a lot of men would disobey him.

Jesus spoke of "Love". Do not call this crazy, mad world in the name of religion.

Mrs J M Khan, Napier Road, Bradford 3.

SIR - Re the story "Fears at £6 million secure unit" (T&A, April 15). Secure units are for people who the courts think need treatment, not punishment.

Would the people of Bradford prefer to pay an average of £110,000 per patient per year, £4 million in total, for these people to be kept away from their families?

Or do we believe Bradfordians who fall seriously ill should have the right to be treated near their families and friends, which makes recovery more likely?

Andrew Perry, Cornwall Terrace, Bradford