Letters to the Editor - 12th June 2008

Jun 12 2008 Liverpool Daily Post

More spent on adult learning

NIGEL POLLITT mistakenly asserts that adult learning is under attack, and that we are “robbing adult education to help young people into work” (Letters, May 27).

In fact, we are increasing spending on adult learning by some £600m over the next three years to £4.8bn, an increase of 17%Šcompared with 2007-08.

Government has rightly focused public funding on enabling adults to get essential basic skills, including literacy and numeracy, as well as qualifications that allow them to provide a better life for their families. Since 2001, 4.7m adult learners have taken up Skills for Life learning opportunities, with over 1.75m adults gaining a qualification.

But we also value informal adult learning and recognise its role in empowering individuals. We recognise that it hasn’t been perceived as a priority area in recent years. That’s why we have launched a consultation and national debate on the future shape of this kind of learning.

It is absolutely not the case that we are trying to make people study online or at home.

We recognise the important contribution that specialist designated institutions such as City Lit, Ruskin College, Northern College and the Workers Education Association make in providing adult learning. I would therefore like to address Nigel’s assertion that these colleges will experience a 72% cut in their total adult budget.

We are undertaking a review of these providers to help identify how their important role can be supported in the longer term.ŠWhile this is pending, specialist designated institutions will receive 100% of their 2007/08 cash allocation for their adult learner responsive funding and adult safeguarded funding in 2008/09.

Of course, when it comes to subsidising informal learning, many learners on low incomes, benefits and pension credits are entitled to full fee remission.

David Lammy, Skills Minister

No justification

IT IS unfortunate that Halton Borough Council and the Mersey Gateway executive board are intent on building a second Mersey crossing at great expense to the taxpayer and to our environment.

We already know from experience that the M6 toll road has actually increased traffic levels on the M6, the road it was designed to unclog.

Before the M6 toll was built, planning officials insisted it would reduce congestion and improve traffic flow. What is absolutely clear is that they got it wrong. The claim that the Gateway will reduce CO² emissions is based on the assumption that congestion will be reduced.

What is the alternative?

With £390m to invest, we could transform the quality of rail and bus links in the sub-region. And a peak time toll on the existing bridge could itself be a powerful congestion buster without the cost of a second bridge.

Our politicians talk about leadership on the environment, but it remains just talk.

There can be no environmental justification for further road building.

It will lead to an increase in CO² emissions, undermining the Government’s and local councils’ claims to be taking the threat of climate change seriously.

There is a different vision and, for all the green talk of the other parties, there is now an alternative.

In Halton View, over 30% of voters supported the Greens, with over 40% of people supporting us in the St Michael's area of Liverpool. We pledge to oppose this development, which we believe will be wrong for our region and will be a very poor use of taxpayers’ money.

Peter Cranie, North West Green Party

Bleak scene

AS AN elderly native of Liverpool, I am saddened by the bleak scene on the Mersey whenever I visit Merseyside.

The Tall Ships in July will liven the place up – it is always a very popular event – but wouldn’t it be a marvellous thing if Liverpool could acquire one of the old square riggers as a permanent feature? A few smaller vessels and the Maritime Museum simply do not do justice to the great historic days of sailing.

I am thinking of the Wavertree – a grand old ship which is now in New York, fully renovated, and there must be a few more at various points around the world.

To acquire the Wavertree is probably not possible, but I ask in all sincerity could not a smaller vessel be found and restored and made a permanent showpiece on Merseyside?

Dare I mention the Cutty Sark? It may be many years before it is restored, but it somehow seems out of place in Greenwich.

I think much more publicity should be given to the maritime history of Merseyside, I am sure it would be well appreciated by the vast majority of Merseysiders.

AJ Downham (Mr), Hereford

Funding appeal

YOUR report “Hunger Striker to bring his fight to Liverpool” (Daily Post, May 31) seriously misrepresents the situation relating to Mr Gordon McNeill and his colleagues in Belfast, and the role of this trade union in the dispute. It is regrettable your reporter did not contact the union for comment, at least in the interests of balance.

First, it is untrue that Unite ever refused to pay the legal costs associated with the Belfast Airport tribunal case. We agreed to meet to meet this bill in full last year and, after negotiations with Mr McNeill’s solicitors, have now done so.

We have further reached agreement on fully funding the costs associated with defending the employers’ appeal against the tribunal ruling in favour of Mr McNeill and the other dismissed shop stewards.

Unite has also made considerable hardship payments to all three stewards throughout. The union has nothing whatsoever to be ashamed of in the support we have shown these men since 2003, when I was elected General Secretary. We also secured the reinstatement of all of their sacked colleagues who wished to return to work.

However, we cannot accept a situation when hunger strikes are repeatedly being staged at union premises.

Tony Woodley, Joint General Secretary, Unite

Decline of Sayers

SO, ANOTHER iconic name on the Merseyside retail scene is in the headlines – first Ethel Austin, now Sayers. What's next?

Hopefully both companies will survive in some form, but not without the pain and misery of job losses, shop closures and factories left to rot and decay.

My company handled Sayers’ marketing for over 20 years, it was a vibrant, progressive organisation but the world was changing.

Lillian Sayers' industrious baking nearly a century ago set the standard, but as usual the retail scene moved on and the "big three" saw their chance to take a bigger slice of the cake!

Like hundreds of others who helped Sayers develop into one of the area's best-known brands, I feel dismayed and distressed by the company's decline, but not really surprised.

But hopefully it will continue to be part of Merseyside's culture – after all, my agency's original slogan – "Sayers: So fresh we're famous" (devised over 30 years ago) – will live in the memory for many years to come.

Bill Draper, via email

Suez injustice

I HAVE written a book which details the turbulent years of the Suez campaign of the early 1950s when thousands of troops, many on National Service, were sent to defend the Canal zone, often facing appalling conditions.

Even though many of the men who died were only in their teens, they were inexplicably denied a medal, unlike soldiers serving in other campaigns. Now, after a long campaign, this injustice has been righted.

Many Suez veterans, now in their seventies, are delighted with the issue of this belated medal, but it is a travesty that it was not issued at the time. Indeed, it might have been some comfort to the next of kin of the lads who lost their lives and are buried in the sand at British military cemeteries in Egypt and other veterans who have since died.

John Hunt, Suez veteran, Preston

Post Office plans

IN RESPONSE to the letter by Richard Brown-Evans, it is clear to see that this Government is wiling to pile as much pressure on the Post Office as possible.

First of all, there was the scaling down of the network, which is seeing some branches, many of them in Liverpool (and some of them, extremely busy), closed down.

Now, should they go ahead and award the POCA account to another bidder, more branches will be threatened.

The role of the Post Office, as both a recognisable brand and institution, and as an asset to every community that has one, should not be underestimated. That's why we unveiled plans to save our Post Offices.

I urge all concerned people to contact their local MP, in the hope that they might see sense.

Lauren Graham, City of Liverpool Conservatives

Quick fix

SO, SINCE Fern Britton admitted that her weight loss was not simply down to diet and exercise, there has been a rush of people to doctors asking them for gastric band surgery.

Is that not just typical of our society today? Quick fixes is all anyone is after. Can’t be bothered to work out and to stay away from the cookie jar? Don’t worry, just go and see the doc and get this done and the weight will drop off.

If people were half as willing to use their willpower as they are their wallets, we wouldn’t have half the problems we have in this country today.

G Hirst, Warrington

Overflowing bins

WHAT IS the problem with Liverpool's cleansing department?

Every Sunday without fail the waterfront litter bins are overflowing, and this is a long- standing problem.

GM, via email