And we need to know if this executive gets any money to spend.For London’s sake it will have to tax and spend, as well as co-ordinate and regulate across and under the built-up area Much depends on the shape privatisation takes. But a great advantage for a private sector Underground, under contract to an elected London Government, would be its freedom to borrow on the capital markets. It would need to, for a massive task of investment lies ahead. Its incentive would be a set of London Government guarantees on revenue, backed by new pan-London planning powers for road, rail and other forms of transport and a direct contribution by London business and domestic residents to pay for their infrastructure – a city tax, to be explicit.The gratifying thing about the election campaign so far is that we are learning something new every day. The troubling thing is, we are not yet getting all the important signals loud and clear.. Round and round the British Isles, up and down the Channel, that’s the way the prison ships go – because no one wants a floating incarceration vessel moored in their own back dock. The fear of Magwitch still scares the Pips of modern Portland, for they have refused the Government permission to station a new pounds 4m prison ship in their waters

The Portland people have a point.

The thought of a galleyfull of convicts so close by is troubling. Presumably the people of Portland will be voting against Michael Howard’s lock-’em-all-up-to-get-them-off-the-streets policy too.. Sir: BBC Panorama’s “Missing Mum” will have caused anxiety and guilt among working parents across the country (“Scaring mothers? It’s Panorama’s bit of fun”, 4 February). Here again was a programme based on research that undermines working mothers, rather than addressing the real issue that keeps both mothers and fathers away from their children – long working hours

Britain has the longest working hours in Europe. A recent survey has suggested that it is the long hours worked by many fathers, rather than mothers, that is the greatest risk to the family.

Fifteen per cent of fathers do not see their children except at weekends, and more than 50 per cent of working fathers spend less than five minutes a day with their child one-to-one.
If both working mothers and fathers are to have the opportunity to spend more time with their children, society needs to value parenting more. Dismantling the current long-hours culture will allow parents longer with their children, as would a commitment to implement the 48-hour directive and the European Social Chapter. Employers must be encouraged to offer flexible working practices and acknowledge the value of keeping motivated staff.SARAH JACKSONJoint Chief ExecutiveParents at WorkLondon EC2. Sir: Contrary to the views expressed by Polly Toynbee in her article and Jan Shaw of Amnesty International in her letter, both of 5 February, asylum seekers are not “arbitrarily detained” without “legal remedy” while their cases are being processed.