Dear Editor Having read the Audit Commission’s report relating to the Victoria Climbie enquiry and the delivery of its many recommendations. I cannot fully concur with the findings.

Given the conclusions drawn as a consequence of the report I do believe as they issued the many recommendations for L/As and the like to implement, they should have also been converted into legislation which It would seem government did not do, especially in those areas of the report where it was suggested government should as a requirement. Given the outcome of the later Toni Ann-lee Byfield, incident again more recommendations following an enquiry, came about.

The system, it would seem, waits for an incident where a child is put at serious risk, possibly fatal, and the first that happens is another enquiry. What follows is more recommendations.

This should lead to a change in regulation. In that way making the recommendation mandatory. I do believe for anyone working with children to be confronted with so many recommendations on top of the present legislation does seriously suggest to me that the whole principle of child care so far as vulnerable children is concerned needs to be fully reviewed and introduced into law as a result of this continued build-up of said more than 100 recommendations.

Given the way changes have now come about which has seen children and young people’s services brought under one roof, from education through extra special needs and onto leisure and vulnerability of children suggests to me that we now have insufficient dedicated control over the vulnerable aspects of children. In short it needs independence from the other disciplines.

That would have been my interpretation of a single management structure .I do not believe that is fully the case. I truly worry for those who work with such children who are completely overshadowed by this large cloud of legislation which we obviously have to have but with the endless recommendations as well on top. It is beyond a fair and reasonable level of expectation for any such person. It has to be reviewed.

Could it be that some decisions which must be implemented in the best interest of a child are prevented in case such decision may not conform somewhere within the parameters of all the said controls.

Coun Reg Corns

Birmingham City Council

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Lord Byron’s lesson on war is a timely one for government

Dear Editor, I have heard and read various pieces by John Hutton MP and others about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the drive to keep forces their and desire to carry on the fight. Great words from politicians who probably don’t have to give up their own lives and family to the perils of warfare. Words to hide behind!

I remember using this quote by Lord Byron in a write-up and exhibition in 2006 in Warwick about the legacy of the former MP Sir Anthony Eden, founding father of the UN in 1945 and PM from 1955-57. The quote is as follows :

“Yet, peace be with their ashes, – for by them, If merited, the penalty is paid;

It is not ours to judge, – far less condemn;

The hour must come when such things shall be made, Known unto all, – or hope and dread allayed, By slumber, on one pillow, in the dust, Which, thus much we are sure, must lie decayed;

And when it shall revive, as is our trust, ’Twill be to be forgiven – or suffer what’s just.”

To me it sets the scene for Remembrance Day. More than anything Byron’s words describe the futility and despair of war. Very few UK governments since 1945 have learned much from past disastrous conflictswhich have no bearing on the UK and its people. Today’s conflicts are no different and will lead to nowhere in the end. The most we can expect is a bankrupted country, beset with turmoil, recession and social unrest. Not a great incentive for a returning soldier who thinks he or she has done their duty for Queen and Country.

Ian Payne

Thornbury Road, Walsall

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Shocking treatment when I left my car at home for the train for first time

* Dear Editor, I am writing to complain about the treatment handed out to passengers on the 15.48 train from New Street to Northampton, yesterday. I was travelling to Rugby, I had left my car at Rugby Station (at the cost of £6), so was not pleased when the driver informed us that we were to all get off at Coventry.

He informed us that we would be informed at the station what would happen – nothing did happen! No railway personnel were visible – no announcements were made, in fact we were ignored! I eventually made contact with friends who live in Coventry, they drove me to Rugby Station to collect my car.

It was the first train journey I have made in some time, I was persuaded to leave my car by the friend I was meeting – never again, I’m going back to my car, where I am in control!

People keep telling us to leave cars at home – no way!

Jan Watts

Boswell Road, Rugby

Warwickshire

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* Dear Editor, Each year the government, via the Department for Transport, gives the green light to inflation busting rail fare increases, whilst recently allowing over a billion overspends on major road schemes.

If hard pressed “Birmingham Post” commuters wonder why more hasn’t been done on keeping fares down or reducing overcrowding, there is at least one clue they’d rather we didn’t know.

Since 2002 the DfT has spent 900 million on external consultants! More proof that they cannot be trusted with tax-payers’ money?

Steve Kirkham

Kings Heath

Birmingham

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* Dear Editor, I note your report that one of the train operating companies claims that a certain service (Walsall to Wolverhampton) is “not commercially viable”. This is the everlasting cry of organisations to avoid doing what should be done.

How long must the human race suffer this tyranny of money over people? Schools, hospitals and many other public services are continually being deprived of what they need because it is “not commercially viable”.

The world could be made a better place to live for many millions, were it not for the sheer greed of those who insist on commercial viability. The current financial shenanigans are due to nothing more than greed on somebody’s part.

My thesaurus gives “mercenary” as a synonym for commercial. It also gives “greedy” as a synonym for mercenary! So what, pray, is “commercially viable”?

John Allison

Oldbury

West Midlands