Points

— David Manly, Dublin.

BLAIR’S TIMING: Your article They think it’s all over . . . it isn’t (Focus, last week) describes an “embittered” Peter Kilfoyle as having “called for Blair’s head”. I assure you that, whatever else I may be, I am not embittered. Nor have I called for Blair’s head. I have repeatedly said that Tony Blair will decide when he wishes to leave Downing Street, not backbench MPs like myself, nor even The Sunday Times.

— Peter Kilfoyle MP, House of Commons.

JUNK FOOD: As you report we are, of course, willing to discuss any ideas with government (Firms to be hit by junk food levy for sports centres, News, June 6). However, we have not been approached about the levy and so have not expressed an opinion. The food and drink manufacturing industry already contributes many millions of pounds to community-based activities, including sponsorship of sports initiatives up and down the country. We believe industry has a role to play in finding solutions to food and health problems, and want to work with the rest of the food chain, government, regulators and educators to achieve this. The scheme outlined in your story looks suspiciously like a stealth tax: not at first blush an obvious runner for an industry which already contributes almost £6 billion to the exchequer.