YOUR LETTERS

I LOOK forward to seeing what this is all about (Balearic presentation in Manchester) and will go to Albert Square to see for myself. However as a frequent visitor to Majorca it seems that everyone in your tourism office is missing the point. We in the Manchester area would love to come to the islands during the winter for a break, however it is a chicken and egg situation. Last winter all the airlines withdrew from the Manchester to Palma route with the exception of BMI who reduced their daily service to 3 times a week, and Thomson who put on flights during school holiday periods. Both airlines charged a premium rate for flights as they knew they didn't have any competition.

As from the beginning of April all airlines have returned and prices have come down. I therefore think before spending money to encourage people to the Islands the first port of call should be to persuade the airlines that you have an all year round destination. After all it's no good people being persuaded to come to the islands if they either can't get there because there are no flights or they are more expensive than other destinations such as Cyprus and the Canaries.

Best regards Ray Gidley,Manchester

Dear Editor

THE silly grin on Ms Hazel Blears' face when she was leaving No. 10 Downing Street with her papers carefully arranged to leak the information about the proposed substitution of Attendance Allowance instead of allowances for second homes said it all -“if the electorate accepts this, they will accept anything.” Doing this will ensure that the money they will be getting will be spread evenly around every MP and not just a few. They will not lose anything.

In climate where there are two million unemployed and rising, this proposal is an insult. When I was working my salary, to my way of thinking, was my attendance allowance and if I did not turn up I lost a day's pay. It was only in the case of genuine sickness that changed that fact.

The politicians get a very good salary with a generous expense allowance on top so why should they get attendance money to counter the loss of the second home allowance which most people would agree was wrong in the first place. The unemployed would love to be able to just attend a place of work for any form of wage or salary to keep their families fed and a roof over their heads. (Brown and Darling take note).

C J Crane, Palma