When I was a JP on the liquor licensing bench and, with colleagues, visiting licensed premises as part of our duties, we were not allowed to accept as much as a glass of water, let alone dinner. Aren’t there similar rules for John Whittingdale and his colleagues (Whittingdale’s free visit to lapdancing venue revealed, 20 April), and if not, why not? We were unpaid volunteers carrying out public duties, and the only “perk” we had was travelling to and from the premises in a black cab so we could fit in as many visits as possible in one morning.
Barbara Richardson
London
• I was interested to see that the Co-op and Asda have advised customers which food is suitable for food banks (Life on the breadline…, 20 April). Is the same advice given to the shoppers in Harrods food hall, or Fortnum & Mason? Or is it just the people who frequent shops at the lower end of the market who are expected to subsidise this government’s austerity measures by donating to food banks?
Hester Doherty
Shrewsbury
• Re the charge against Led Zeppelin (A whole lotta law: jury to decide whether Led Zep stole Stairway to Heaven’s hook, 13 April), compare Brahms’s Intermezzo Op 117, No 3. If my wife is a good judge, the beginning seems to be essentially the right notes (and in the right order).
Tom Sutherland
Cardiff
• If our rulers don’t even trust us to name a small research vessel (Minister pours cold water on McBoatface, 19 April), why would they think we are capable of deciding whether or not to remain in the EU?
Robert Powell
Sedbergh, Cumbria
• Congratulations on your new puzzle page. All good, some I haven’t seen before. I won’t have to buy the i any more!
WH Wrigley
Loughborough
• If I’d wanted more puzzles, I would have bought the Express!
Dr Martin J Schwarz
Oldham
• Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com
