An explanation of the current round of government funding of local authorities could well lie in the latest survey of household income 1998-2001.

It shows the average gross weekly income in the UK was £480 but in the North East only £380.

In the South East, it was £586. The percentage of household income from social security benefits was much higher in the poorest areas - those in the North.

There is a belief children quickly acquire the notion of "fairness" because it is inborn. I should love to believe this is the case.

-R G Jenkins, Hove