SIR - I write with regard to the bus system that is known as a "service". I have been without a car for a month and have experienced this "service" on my travels between Leeds and Bradford each day.

Metro/First Bus seem unable to agree who needs to answer questions I have asked them.

Does anyone check that buses leave on time from bus stations? Does a timing point mean the driver should wait there if he arrives early or just carry on? How can a bus leaving a bus station around 6.45am be 15 minutes late four miles down the route?

To top it all, the buses were on strike on Friday.

It's about time Metro took real charge. "First Bus is nothing to do with us" - they told me recently. It's funny, I have a capital M on my bus pass - it must mean something.

They should use the technology that is on every bus to check late leaving or non-arrivals. The drivers seem to come and go as they please with no apologies for lateness.

I for one am looking forward to the return of my car. No way could I go without it permanently.

Sue Wilkinson, Hawksworth Road, Horsforth

SIR - I read with astonishment that £4.5 million is to be spent on repairs to 270 older privately-owned homes.

Why haven't these people paid for their own repairs as the rest of us house owners have had to do over the years and are still doing?

It brings back to me the report the other week of the gentleman who got a grant of £11,000 to re-roof his house (it begs the question how big is this house?). Two years later it needs re-roofing.

It makes me wonder who authorised the job at this price and who inspected it after the job was done?

Still it doesn't matter. The ratepayers will pay. We can always put the rates up higher still.

By the way, I'm a pensioner, my house is 123 years old, I've never had a grant or a penny from the state, but I did get 75p increase in my pension.

B Stoyles, Idle Road, Bradford.

SIR - In an article in Nursery World on September 28 Government minister Margaret Hodge responded to concerns about the proposed National Standards for Day Care.

We, as registered childminders, are disappointed and shocked at the Government's proposals to allow registered childminders to smack children and smoke in front of them with parental consent. This seems a ludicrous proposition, especially as there is growing evidence of the effects of passive smoking and of a link with Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

As childminders, we do not need to smack as we can use many more positive methods to manage behaviour. The National Childminding Association has long campaigned for it to be made illegal for registered childminders to smack children, but the Government seems to have taken a backward step and ignored the NCMA's advice.

Under the proposals no other childcare workers would be able to smack or smoke - only childminders. Why?

Margaret Hodge's response was "The standards of childminders are less prescriptive because it is a more informal type of childcare setting."

As registered childminders this angers us as it threatens the professional image of childminding and our reputation for quality.

If anyone wants to respond to these issues they can e-mail the NCMA on info@ncma.org.uk or visit the website at www.ncma.org.uk.

Judith Dalby, secretary, Bradford Childminding Association, Kings Road, Bradford.

SIR - The Euro(pe) sceptical letters from Derek Wright and P E Bird of October 2 cannot go unchallenged.

Firstly, Derek claims that felons can go "to Europe" (which we are part of) if they don't like the justice meted out here!

We, with our allies after the war, set up the European Court of Human Rights to prevent minorities (eg Jews) from being treated as non-humans by fascist governments, among other things.

"Felons," such as women seeking equal pay for equal work, might justifiably have mocked "British justice," but thankfully now we have a Human Rights Act they can expect "British justice" to do the right thing itself!

As for P E Bird, does he remember when one Chancellor Lamont was effectively forced to devalue the pound when one man - George Soros - decided that it was over-valued?

How much did we - and other central banks - spend in propping-up the pound then? P E Bird will be laughing on the other side of his face when things turn around, as they certainly will.

Euro never? Certainly not for any reason he gives but on more sound economic reasons yet to be widely discussed.

Who said ignorance is bliss?

John Hall, Pennithorne Avenue, Baildon.

SIR - We frequently come across articles in the T&A regarding the dumping of rubbish in Bradford and how it spoils the city's appearance.

I cannot say I am surprised. Over five weeks ago I got in touch with the Council's bulk refuse department and asked them to remove some rubbish I had. I was told it would be attended to within two weeks.

When nothing had happened, I rang again. Full of apologies they said they would deal with it as soon as possible. After another week I rang again. This time I was told that a note would be passed on to Mr Mudd (the head of cleansing).

I have now finished up sending an e-mail which has also been passed on to Mr Mudd. This has still had no effect. So I am not surprised that people finish up dumping things.

By the time this letter is published perhaps the rubbish may have been collected. Miracles do happen. But I now see that the Council is wanting to cut down on its staff in this department so what chance have we of making Bradford a clean city?

Stewart Knowles, Wrose Road, Bradford 2.

l A spokesman for Bradford Council Cleansing Department said: "Mr Knowles's rubbish has now been collected. We apologise for the delay, but the service was temporarily suspended because of the fuel crisis and since its resumption we have been dealing with a large backlog of collection requests."

SIR - I couldn't help responding to a letter sent to you by Trevor Hodgson regarding Provincial House.

I have to agree with him about letting people live there, but the people should be homeless. The building should be transformed into studio flats.

I am not saying let them have the run of the place. There should be conditions and rules, but at least it would help them to get jobs and give back a bit of self-respect.

If all the charities got together and asked for special funding, I think it would be the start of something worthwhile.

Nichola Nero, Halifax Road, Bradford.