Do we need a parish council?

SIR - The people of Baildon are soon to vote on whether or not they are in favour of a parish council for Baildon.

Thirteen such councils exist within the metropolitan district of Bradford and, judging by the opinions of friends and colleagues who are residents of some of them, Ilkley, Addingham, Wilsden and Cullingworth, they are less than enamoured with what they receive for the additional precept to their unacceptably high council tax bill.

A parish council is a further tier of government, albeit with only limited powers, which has to be financed by the residents of the parish. It is, however, a convenient way for the district council to abdicate some of its minor responsibilities without financial recompense to the relevant council tax payers.

None of these limited powers contains duties or responsibilities that are not already accounted for in the remit of the district council, thus any additional service introduced by the parish council should have been carried out by the district council and is, therefore, being paid for twice.

I trust the electorate of Baildon will bear in mind what they might receive for their additional (and probably ever-increasing) council tax precept, should they decide in favour of a council.

S J Close, The Crescent, Baildon.

End this nonsense

SIR - Isn't it time we got behind MP Philip Davies's campaign to reduce political correctness?

It has all been bad enough with having so many things we need to remember so that we aren't politically incorrect but the latest seems to have gone entirely beyond what is reasonable.

Recently, on University Challenge, Jeremy Paxman avoided the use of BC and instead used BCE - Before the Common Era.

Apart from not understanding what 'the Common Era' means and who thought of it, I am absolutely sure those people he meant to avoid offending - Muslims, Jews, atheists and other non-Christians who might not wish to use this dating system tied to Jesus and Christianity - couldn't really care less.

If they wish to use a different system and some do, then so be it but please let the rest of us get on with using BC as we have done for several hundred years and which we all understand, know and love.

John Stead, Rooley Avenue, Bradford.

Liaison truths

SIR - It was interesting to read Dr Malik's catalogue of achievements by the Minorities Police Liaison Committee (T&A, January 19).

However, as claimed in the article, it is not the first such committee in the city. Bradford Community Relations Council (CRC), later changed to Bradford Racial Equality Council (BREC), had a Police Liaison Panel from the middle of the 1960s.

Nevertheless, the police's relations with the CRC and the minority communities' leadership were ad hoc and limited to resolving individual cases when in difficulty. No formal arrangements existed to work towards promoting racial equality and harmonious relations between diverse communities.

It was the Scarman Report (1981) on the Brixton race riots which recommended the police establish closer links with the local CRCs and the minority ethnic communities and to introduce changes in police training.

On its part, BREC had continually been providing inputs into cultural and racism awareness training courses for the local police until its demise in March 2000.

The low-key educational and only mildly-critical approach of the BREC helped in maintaining a good working relationship with the police but made no real impact on the prevailing racist culture within the force.

Dr Ramindar Singh, Chatsworth Road, Pudsey.

Switch 'em off...

SIR - While the nation debates how to produce its electricity, we should not forget that it would all help if we used less. This would save money and reduce the climate-change gas emissions.

Most of the 70 million TVs are left on standby for more than 17 hours a day, and this produces more carbon dioxide than flying the whole population of Bradford and Halifax to New York and back.

It's not just televisions. We need to question why we need a little clock on a microwave and remember that a dishwasher left on at the end of the cycle consumes 70 per cent of the power used when washing.

Additionally computer screen savers don't save and they are best properly switched off.

Keith Thomson, Heights Lane, Bradford.

A question of law

SIR - In response to Mr Wilson's dismissal of Mr Lorriman's arguments for the restoration of the death penalty (T&A, December 27) it is certainly not the case that our ratification of the Sixth Protocol of the European Convention on Human Rights "cannot be undone".

Mr Wilson forgets that no Parliament can bind its successors and that the Sovereignty of Parliament is enshrined in Fundamental Law (that portion of Common Law which approximates to a Constitution) which cannot be repealed or amended.

Indeed, Common Law as such takes precedence over any parliamentary Act; consequently, much recent legislation and many treaties are unconstitutional, null and void.

What is lacking, particularly since the emasculation of the House of Lords, is firstly a forum, a Constitutional Court, in which such issues can be raised.

Coun James Lewthwaite (BNP, Wyke), City Hall, Bradford.

Milk is a must

SIR - How does P E Bird (T&A letters, January 18) know "as a matter of fact" that Tony Blair admired Mrs Thatcher and sought her advice?

Many Prime Ministers have met with their predecessors going back to the 19th century but as to why or what has been discussed is privy to them.

As for parents being able to afford to buy their children "a drop of milk out of their child allowance," of course they can but some don't give two hoots about their children's welfare, hence the importance of giving milk to all school children to ensure they get calcium in their bodies so essential for strong bones and teeth.

Why so-called experts are now telling the Government that this procedure is a waste of money completely confounds me.

D Rhodes, Croscombe Walk, Bradford.

Claiming benefits

SIR - Many people who should be claiming benefits are not, and it is mostly due to the antiquated system of advising people that they can claim, but not showing them how with proper examples or guidance, and it is mostly the elderly who are not claiming.

You can now go to the web at www.entitledto.co.uk and work out just what you are entitled to for under 60 and over 60-65.

If you have a computer, you can book free sessions at Bradford or Shipley library and there is always someone there who can help you. Or contact Age Concern at Sunbridge Road, Bradford.

L Scholes, Chellow Grange Road, Bradford

Not on the map...

SIR - The news that the powers-that-be are considering withdrawing more rail services from Bradford (T&A, January 24) is not surprising.

Below the 'Watford Gap' they don't know that we exist! Not if the TV weather maps are anything to go by.

To say that Bradford is, I believe, the fourth largest Metropolitan Borough in the UK we have scant recognition on these maps. Why?

If we could see Bradford occasionally depicted perhaps the powers-that-be would spot us and know where to send the trains!

Brian W Doyle, Hill Top Road, Thornton.