Food and Events

I wonder how many other young people were watching the news? Not nearly as many as watch Neighbours, Home and Away, etc. From Ms Nanette Bramwell Sir: I cried as I listened to Paul and Janet Betts on the television last night as they talked about the tragedy that had befallen their daughter after taking an Ecstasy pill. European social capital could provide a better foundation for future economic investment and prosperity than the growing insecurity of a majority of the American population.Yours faithfully,Richard de ZoysaDivision of PoliticsSouth Bank UniversityLondon, SE19 November. In the long run, this investment in "social capital" may prove of more lasting value in terms of societal cohesiveness. This may reduce those social costs borne by the community at large, either in the form of higher taxes to pay for policing or, if private security becomes the norm, in more expensively priced goods as consumers. Witness the current turmoil in France over the future direction of policy. Across the Atlantic, a reduction in the role and power of the federal government is ardently sought by the Republican right, with projected cuts in Medicaid and welfare provision, and seemingly oblivious to any negative social consequences that may follow.The EU, for all its stumblings, is still committed to the Social Chapter, providing an essential civilised minimum standard.

However, monetary union, when it eventually occurs, will be massively deflationary, thereby reducing the state's role across Europe for those countries able to conform to the "convergence" criteria. US competitiveness is rising, new service industries being formed without any obvious rivals and new opportunities and jobs created So far so good. But within a month which saw Farrakhan's march on Washington addressing many who feel locked outside this prosperity, can such confidence in the future be so easily assured? The EU is struggling to develop an adequate post-Maastricht identity, marooned in a stop-go agenda based on moves towards monetary union. From Mr Richard de Zoysa Sir: There is much in Hamish McRae's analysis ("Wall Street looks the other way", 9 November) that one can agree with. Women's solidarity is definitely not on her agenda any more.It is a shame that such a renowned champion of women's rights should so resent the right of access being granted to disabled people and women with small children.

Without the changes made by Sainsbury's, many disabled people would be unable to experience the small inconveniences of convenience- store life. We have been locked in backrooms and institutions for too long, and have been dispatched to even more sinister fates because we were "inconvenient".Yours faithfully,Patricia RockChair of British Disabled Women'sGroup of British Council ofDisabled PeopleBrenda EllisHead of Policy, Greater London Association of Disabled PeopleDerby. "Sisterhood is powerful" is obviously something Ms Greer talked of in the Seventies and discarded in the Nineties. Being a housewife is a full-time job and being a disabled woman in a world filled with architectural barriers is exhausting - especially if one is a working mum. From Ms Patricia Rock and Ms Brenda Ellis Sir: We were so sorry to read about what a distressing time Germaine Greer had at Sainsbury's (10 November), beset as she was with so many disabled people and women with small children who clearly had no business being out.It seems Ms Greer only sees the working woman as being the one in a hurry.We are sure most women do not go to Sainsbury's "for fun".

The 1984 version was strong, absorbent and long - perhaps it can be imaginatively recycled?Yours faithfully,Nick ClarkBritish Standards InstitutionLondon, W4. From Mr Nick Clark Sir: Ruth Picardie's article "P!$$ed off" (13 November) implied British Standard 6465 might be Cr&p. BS 6465 Part I would recommend not five cubicles for 250 women visiting a cinema, but eight (60 per cent more), and not 12 cubicles per 250 men but one! While not entirely removing the need for crossed legs in certain situations, it clearly recognises the problem of inadequate provision of sanitary facilities for women, and sets out to redress the balance.Far from covering only "businesses in which food and drink are consumed on the premises", it recommends levels of provision for dwellings, accommodation for elderly people, facilities for disabled people, public toilets, workplaces, shops with sales areas in excess of 1,000m2, schools, buildings for public entertainment, hotels etc, restaurants etc, licensed bars and swimming pools.I suspect that your correspondent has been killing time reading a 10- year-old copy of the standard form 1984, which has been subsequently withdrawn. The Independent really would have cause to complain if the industry's watchdog spoke first and thought later.Yours faithfully,Mark BollandDirectorPress Complaints CommissionLondon, EC414 November. When we are in full possession of all the facts, then - and only then - will we be in a position to act, if indeed it is necessary for us to do so. It is our responsibility to adjudicate on complaints made about possible breaches of the code - not to act as judge and jury, applying the rules as well as framing them.Lord Wakeham is maintaining an extremely close eye on press reporting of the West trial and of allegations made about the conduct of newspapers. But it is not our Code of Practice: it is a code drafted by the newspaper industry.