IN RESPONSE to the letter from Sarah Jones regarding ContactPoint. It is clear that Ms Jones has completely missed the point that was being made. As a parent, I am appalled that all this data is collated by the state without the parent or carer being informed. It is also common knowledge that the school family has also not been informed of ContactPoint.

Is Sarah Jones a parent? Does she not feel concerned that Government agencies lose data on a daily basis, would she not be concerned if this data fell into the hands of the wrong people?

Of course she would, and that is why we have raised the issues about ContactPoint, not because we want to score cheap political points, but because of our concern for the young people in the city.

For the information of the public, this database will be accessed by 500,000 people, the school environment already carries data which could be utilised, but the Government decided to introduce something which includes the young person’s weight and height at birth. How is this going to prevent the horrific case that Ms Jones refers to?

My advice to Ms Jones and parents throughout the land, is to research ContactPoint and come to your own conclusions; my conclusion is that this database does not hold the personal respect of educational and social work practitioners, who I have trusted my children’s well-being with, and in time this will be used to replace yet more frontline educationalists.

In conclusion, can I remind Ms Jones, in a country where free speech and democracy is a given, never underestimate the power of the authority that imposes database collation in secret.

Cllr Warren Bradley, Leader of Liverpool City Council

Tackle real issues

RE: MERSEYSIDE MPs asking questions in the House. Ask where are the “new” jobs New Labour promised us are. Ask why we don’t get the funding for rail improvements and infrastructure that is guaranteed to other northern cities.

Ask why there has always been a New Labour bias against Liverpool. Ask REAL questions and expect REAL answers. But please don’t waste our lives asking questions about the financial state of football clubs.

Roy Wilkins, Kirkdale

Tax outrage

I AM absolutely appalled to learn that Mark Tami MP has been getting the tax payer to subsidise his council tax, unintentional or not.

I live in a 2-bed bungalow with only a yard at the rear and have to pay the exorbitant amount of £1,330.46 pa council tax. I am outraged.

Mrs J Thomas, address supplied

Crossing danger

I WRITE to you to highlight the serious problem outside my daughter’s school, St Sebastian’s, in Fairfield.

Each morning and evening when going to, and coming from school, we encounter illegally and dangerously parked cars.

The drivers pay no attention to double yellow lines, and seem to be interested only in themselves.

Holly Road itself is used as a short cut in both directions to miss out lights on Kensington and Edge Lane.

There are some traffic calming measures, with a 20mph limit, bumps, and lollipop lady, but these are ineffective.

We need to solve this problem, it is only a matter of time before a serious accident.

I have some ideas myself, about a one-way system, traffic lights and a crossing at the afore-mentioned danger spot at Laurel Road, and restricted access to Holly Road.

What process is required to get things done here?

Name and address supplied

Protests will fail

WHEN I read the article and letters attacking the possibility that the City Council might use its powers to rate films that show smoking as suitable for an 18-and over audience, I felt I was watching a re-run of the “Great SmokeFree Liverpool” story.

It is only a few years ago that SmokeFree Liverpool took the lead in pressing for comprehensive legislation on smoking in the workplace.

At that time, critics either attacked the science behind the proposal or said it couldn’t be made to work. If those arguments weren’t enough, they said the public didn’t want the legislation.

We all now know legislation did come in, it has been made to work, and the vast majority of people welcome a smoke-free environment. Does anyone now argue that we should go back to the old days?

I believe that the “smoking movies” issue will go the same way. Critics will question the science (which is robust), and attack the experts behind the proposal. If those arguments don’t work, they’ll fall back on the censorship/nanny state line.

But, in the end, the attacks will fail, because the simple facts are clear. Smoking in movies has been shown to have a huge effect in leading young people to take up the habit.

Therefore, taking smoking out of movies which can be seen by young people will save thousands of lives.

The critics may not want to listen to this argument, but I am convinced that this is one of the simplest and most effective public health measures we could introduce.

This is not censorship, nor an attack on the film industry. If this proposal goes through, smoking will still feature in youth-rated films where it can be justified in depicting an actual historical figure such as Winston Churchill, or where the harmful effects of smoking are clearly shown, and in future adult-rated movies.

Gideon Ben-Tovim, Chair of Liverpool Primary Care Trust, Joint Chair of the SmokeFree Liverpool Stakeholder Group