Find out what you had to say about the topics discussed on Question Time, broadcast on 27 May from Newbury.
The topics discussed this week were:
Abu Hamza Childhood obesity Poll tax British art Royal Mail Princess Michael of Kent General comments on the programme
The following comments reflect the balance of the opinion we have received:
Abu Hamza
Audience question: Why did it take an extradition request from the US to trigger the arrest of Abu Hamza?
You said:
Text: Citizenship is not a status that can be withdrawn in the same way as a driving licence.
Sam, Manchester
Hamza allegedly kidnapped British citizens in the Yemen. The only reason he is being deported to the US is so there can be a show trial of a hook-handed, one-eyed, "mad Muslim", before the US elections.
Simon Findlay, Perth
Text: Abu Hamza should be deported at once to stand trial but will he want the protection of British law now?
Mike, Sunderland
Text: Does anyone seriously think he will ever be deported?
Chrissy, Potters Bar
Abu Hamza should be deported as a threat to our great country and should not be allowed to preach his abhorrent and vile diatribe against the West. We must uphold our law and the rule of this country.
Nick France, Swanscombe
Text: Arrest everyone who is suspected of terrorist activities and hold them to account.
Tom, Bath
I think the suggestion that Abu Hamza should not be allowed due process is absurd. If we go down that road we are seen by the world as having the same draconian system as many of the countries which we have taken action against, eg. Afghanistan.
Mark Sanderson, Glasgow
Text: Why now? A handy distraction from the evil things we are currently seeing?
Lesley, Lancashire
Isn't this just a case of Blair ignoring British opinion – again – and then when America says "jump" he turns round and asks "how high"?
Tim, London
Text: If Hamza is responsible for the death of UK citizens why isn't he being tried here?
Taz, Newcastle
Abu Hamza should be tried for treason. Janet Street-Porter should climb off whatever bandwagon she has decided to climb on and look at the bigger picture. The man has encouraged people to commit crimes against our country.
Jamie Bryant, Livingston
Text: Who will foot the bill for Abu Hamza's arrest – the USA or the UK?
Camilla, Milton Keynes
Text: We are too soft on people like Abu Hamza because we're fearful of being called racist.
Dave, Reading
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Childhood obesity
Audience question: Who should be responsible for a child's weight, the parents or the state?
You said:
I have two children, a four and a half year old and a 22 month old. I would have said the child's diet should be the responsibility of the parent; however, last week I changed my mind. My children have always eaten a very healthy diet. Our meals are taken together, and eaten at regular times. My husband arrives home at a time for us to eat a family meal EVERY evening and the meal is cooked from scratch from fresh, not frozen or packaged, foods. We eat as much organic food as we can afford. We do not add salt to our cooking. We use olive oil or sesame oil, whole grain breads, lots of fruit and veg. In short we have a healthy diet, and our children eat the same foods as my husband and I. My children only drink water, and fresh not from concentrate fruit juices, no milk due to allergies. They have never tasted fizzy drinks or sweetened cordials. They have never eaten a packet of crisps. Last week at my son's state-funded playgroup at the local community education centre, he and the other children were given as a snack A PACKET OF CRISPS. In the same week they were also given as snacks a Kit Kat and a jam tart. On the other two days they were given fruit. I spoke with a person from the care commission who informed me that he looked to see if the snacks offered were balanced, and he considered them to be so. In this situation how can parents be held responsible for their child's diet
Kerrey-Lyn Mitchell, Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire
Our children always complain that there is not enough physical education at school. They always have 3 lessons of world studies every week learning about topics such as the Muslim faith and other religions. But only 1 hour of PE!!. What can we do with this soft culture we live trying to please every faith in the world, except the Christian faith.
Ray Hutchings, Amersham
I used to go to school in Sweden and during lunch times there was fresh orange juice, cheese, grated carrots, bacon and mashed potatoes etc available for the pupil to collect not dished out by an uninterested canteen lady. In addition if you wanted second or third helpings it was not a problem. This was in the early 70's All this was free of charge (due to high taxation rates I assume). Could we not do the same in the UK or TRY to improve on food quality served in schools?
Rory Trappe, Blaenau Ffestiniog
Text: I don't recall there being too many fat kids during the years of rationing.
Mrs T Flint
Would it not be feasible to give fruit and veg vouchers to impoverished families with young children, to encourage healthy eating, rather like milk vouchers are already given?
Susan West, Milton Keynes
Text: What a shame we don't highlight starvation like we do obesity.
Paul, Bedford
Blame the parents, not the government, for not feeding their children properly.
John Mealand, Essex
Parents need to take responsibility for their children's health. If the children want fatty foods, just don't buy them. If they spend their pocket money on sweets, stop it.
Georgina Bass, Bideford
Text: Here we go again, careless parents blaming others.
Tracey, Newcastle
Yet again the obesity debate comes back to: "Children should walk to school so that obese middle-aged business men/women can drive to work 10 minutes quicker". Keep the pressure on adults: how many fit and slim parents have obese children? Where does it all start?
Paul Caldwell, Leeds
Text: Nothing to do with the state, it's the parents' fault.
Dave, Somerset
Food manufacturers are allowed to position foods as being "healthy" when they're not. "Sugar free" seems to mean "laden with saccharin instead". "No artificial colours" appears to mean "artificial something else". Until we can get the marketing out of food labelling there is no hope for parents to provide their kids with a healthy diet.
Karen, London
Text: Parents need to learn to say no.
Rob, Newcastle
Don't give planning permission to any more fast food chains, there are too many already and they all entice kids in with free toys. Get rid of choices for school dinners, healthy options only. Get rid of coke machines etc in schools, bring in water coolers instead.
Walking to school; what a great idea! I only ever walked to school and I only left school 10 years ago; times have changed in the last 10 years.
Get rid of confectionary/junk food companies rewarding kids to eat bad food by collecting tokens to exchange for sports kit etc.
Rachel, Bracknell
Text: Ban car parking at schools and make children walk.
Keith, Bury
I cannot understand why the government has to be responsible for what parents put in their children's mouths or indeed the daily activity their children undertake. Let parents take responsibility for their offspring and stop passing the buck!
Ben, Luton
Text: There is not enough emphasis in schools on sport and physical exercise; we need to reverse the couch potato culture.
Manish, Bath
Thank goodness that a food technology teacher made that point. As a teacher of ICT, I have heard this said by more than five other food technology teachers in different schools all with equal annoyance.
Ian Murray, Ross-on-Wye
Text: Fat food is addictive – you must have strong willpower and the kids these days certainly lack that.
Inese, London
Janet mentioned doubling VAT on crisps. Surely this would act as an incentive for the government to have more crisps sold? Shouldn't the tax implication be transferred to the producer/manufacturer?
Matt McConnon, London
Text: On one side we have kids getting obese and on the other increasing eating disorders through fear of getting fat!
J Cox, Essex
Why is it always down to the schools? Parents feed these children from birth. If a child is fed crisps and sweet drinks from eight months to one year old, how is that the responsibility of the schools? Schools cannot possibly fit in more PE with the restraints of a curriculum so loaded with maths, English and science.
Vicki Plume, Hertford
Text: Parents are simply too lazy to take responsibility for their children's health.
Tracey
We used to have a tax on "luxury" foods called VAT; this has now been extended so far that we are having to talk about adding MORE tax. Also, let's not forget that burgers, sausages, minced beef etc. are the only foods many families can afford.
Ian Stolworthy, Haverhill
Text: Taxing foods is a silly idea, it already costs too much for buyers and taxpayers!
Tod, Exeter
This government needs to increase money and tax support for sporting and youth organisations, like here in Holland, which has amazing sports facilities at every level. Also ensure that parents stop being lazy by taking children to school in the car; make them walk.
Robert Brannan, Eindhoven
A lot of the problem is due to the failure of the government to support the family. Families have been penalised through the tax system which now makes it necessary for both partners to work to pay for the ever-increasing burden, thus supporting latch-key children.
Alan Howard, Harpenden
Text: Put health warnings on fatty food similar to tobacco products.
Alan, Essex
I am becoming more and more incensed by the increasing burden placed upon teachers to deliver knowledge and skills to children which previously would have been considered the role of the parents. While I readily accept that education undoubtedly plays an important part in this, as a primary school teacher, I believe that many children's values are already instilled by the time they arrive at school and it is the responsibility of the parents to ensure that these are appropriate.
J Lewis, Liverpool
Honesty from Peter Hain – they got something wrong – I take my hat off to him. One can only hope this is contagious.
Paul Batty, Sheffield
My child gets free school meals. These invariably contain a drink that is nothing more than a blend of sugar and chemicals, and a chocolate bar, and crisps. There is no alternative to these lunches other than "buy your own". Schools also seem to give children food a lot of the time without consulting the parents, and not always healthy food either. Sweets are used as treats to encourage children. As someone who restricts the diet of my child, I find this extremely annoying. I have banned all fizzy drinks, sweeteners, and artificial colours from my house, and I don't want school providing them.
E M, Lincs
Get rid of child allowance and give kids free school meals, ensuring nutrition and a quality meal.
Dave, Lakenheath
Obesity in children has a lot to do with lack of time to make proper meals. In years gone by, mothers tended not to go out to work. Now they do and rely more and more on feeding children high calorie, fast-food carry-outs and ready-made meals.
William Mcintyre, Falkirk
How can anyone ask if parents or teachers are responsible for a three-year-old dying of obesity when a three-year-old hasn't started school yet? Teachers haven't even had an input!
Sue Knight, Uxbridge
Peter Hain – CONGRATULATIONS! You'll probably be sacked tomorrow, but someone needs to admit that political correctness has eroded parental control to the extent that our children's health is at risk as a result.
Sam Alexander, Norwich
In my day, not so long ago, when we did what the lady in the audience called "food technology", we said we were doing cooking lessons and we knew what we were doing.
D Llewellyn, Stockport
If only 3,500 people are killed on our roads and with 30,000 killed due to obesity, why on earth does the government not put cameras at the end of supermarket checkouts to catch those buying dangerous foods?
Red Neale, Dorset
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Poll tax
Audience question: Are the Conservatives right to consider bringing back elements of the poll tax, when it caused so much misery the first time around?
You said:
Text: Anything would be better than the poll tax.
Jo, Bucks
Text: The poll tax was the fairest way.
SR, Glasgow
It is absolutely facile of the Lib Dems to assert that local income tax is a panacea to the problems of council tax. I have a good income but I also have a huge mortgage and maintenance payments to make. Surely the logic of their argument on ability to pay is that all tax payment should ultimately be means tested
Martin Hughes, St Helens
Text: They should base a poll tax on the weight of your child!
Rob, Reading
Why don't they have a vote by the public on this? I would rather pay another 3% tax – it is a fairer way according to who earns what, plus the government would be guaranteed the payment.
Gary Wakeman, London
Text: Why should the so-called rich pay more for the same services than the poor?
Chris, Herts
I would like to see all VAT revenues and all stamp duty revenues for a location going to the local government, creating a link to spending on individual incomes. Obviously, this is just redistribution of some existing funds so without current local charges, then I would accept higher national income tax. There may need to be a review of activities which are funded locally or nationally. Have any of the parties considered similar arrangements? If not, what is the best way to encourage them to do so?
Pete Larsen, Edinburgh
Text: Don't we pay enough tax in this country? Surely we should monitor where it is going more closely.
Tina, London
What I object to about local taxes (whatever they are) is that we are located in the catchment area for a very poor school. Why should we pay excessive local taxes to consign my children to a sub-standard education? We have decided to take the hit and pay for private education for our children. In effect this means that we are being taxed even more!
Paul Rowlands, Bracknell
Text: How can you judge the amount of local services a family uses based on the value of their house?
Jim, Hampshire
Text: There is too much tax already!
Paul, Berks
If Janet Street-Porter thinks payments should reflect uptake of services I quite agree. In my area the department with the biggest budget is the social work department. Those benefiting are often those with the least ability, or least intention, of paying.
William Mcintyre, Falkirk
When we have a national housing shortage, isn't it a good thing that people who are prepared to house share are encouraged with a lower rate of council tax?
Peter, London
Text: Reintroducing the poll tax would be as daft as id cards.
Chris, Southend
The problem is not limited to the Council Tax, but is an overall problem with a highly complex Tax and credit system. So many different organisations asses your income and decide either what to give you or what to take away. The new Child Tax Credit is an example of a costly system to asses. The whole system should be dramatically simplified and totally based on income. It should be assessed by one organisation which collects from those over a certain level and gives back to those below that point.
Brian Orpin, Livingston
The idea of a local income tax has its difficulties and there will be problems. Collection, I think, will be complicated and local councils will face a shortfall of funds if people pay only what they can afford. At present we all pay the same amount despite what we earn or the income that we have. Pensioners on a fixed income are especially hit as has been well documented by their actions in some cases.
Steve Fuller, Hove, East Sussex
Local taxation is very simple to solve: scrap it. Raise the money from general taxation that already has all the necessary provisions and allowances for the protection of the poor or low paid. There is absolutely no possible reason to base tax on houses, which have no relationship to earnings. Local income tax only is equally daft requiring a vast duplication of the Inland Revenue. Scrapping local taxes would make good savings on all the army of local tax assessors, calculators and collectors.
James SG, London
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British art
Audience question: Does the panel consider the fire that destroyed an old bath, a derelict beach hut and a two-man tent is bad news for British art?
You said:
If the insurers pay out millions for the destroyed works of Damien Hirst etc. they must be mad. Conceptual art is all about the concept. Concepts, unlike old masters can't be destroyed by fire. Once conceptualised, they can be easily replaced.
William McIntyre, Falkirk
I cannot understand why your panel were asked to discuss the loss of art works in a warehouse fire, when surely we should be discussing why a committed young fire-fighter lost his life leaving a widow and two young children.
Ann, Rhymney, Tredegar
Text: Good riddance to a pile of junk!
Sean, Newcastle
Wouldn't you rather have art which makes people think, and feel emotions, than just pretty pictures which are nice to look at? Stop looking at the descriptions, start looking at the art.
Jack D, Worthing
Text: The burned building might be considered as modern art!
Ian, Haywards Heath
My house is a work of art! Perhaps I should insure it for billions of pounds because I have at least four unmade beds here and a large garden shed which has seen better days!! The fact it is still standing is the eighth wonder of the world!! Seriously though, it is terrible that someone has had their valuable, irreplaceable in some cases, collection destroyed in this way however much I feel that some of it was just complete rubbish.
Maggie Knight, Plymouth
Text: I would have more sympathy if Saatchi had displayed them instead of locking them away.
Alan, Essex
It seems to me that conceptual art is only as valid as the size of the name that created it. If I had created the "tent art", it would have been ridiculed as a joke. If an established name creates the piece, it is described as simply brilliant! It is not the art that inspires, more the credibility and desirability of the artist.
Colin Day, Brentwood
Text: What is art if it doesn't strike an emotion?
Paul, Reading
I began to respect Tracy Emin as a brilliant artist when she pointed out this week that she feels more angry about children being killed in Iraq than the destruction of her work.
Maya Martinez, London
Text: Art isn't just paintings!
Steve, Reading
Why is it that whenever someone has a criticism of modern art Janet Street-Porter refers to them as a philistine? Modern art is in the eye of the beholder – I don't value Janet Street-Porter's opinion any more than I respect anyone else's – I don't see why if one person expresses an artistic opinion of their own that is contrary to Janet's they must be a philistine – surely you can disagree with Janet and still have a valid opinion?
Martin Gollogly, Birmingham
Art? Nah, it's the "Emperor's New Clothes" syndrome. So a tent and a pile of other junk burned down and the "la-di-dah luvvies" think it's a great loss to the nation. Unbelievably it never meant anything to the average hardworking person living in a two-up-two-down, fighting to stay in the black. I have some "installation" dog mess outside my front door, £20,000 darling? No rush, the council will not be round to clean it up in a hurry.
Smudge, Middlesbrough
Text: Who are any of us to decide what "art" is? Long live the artist in all of us.
Phil, Hampshire
It's odd that a lot of people still find it hard to tell the difference between conceptualist installations and art. Conceptualist works may be interesting, challenging or even moving. But if I (a non-artist) could have produced a work (as distinct from having the idea for it) then it's probably a conceptualist work. If, on the other hand, it was produced with skill beyond the ability of most people, it's probably art.
Adrian, London
Text: I've a pile of ironing – is that a winner?!
Jane, Fife
Text: I saw Tracey's tent and it was beautiful.
Fraser, Edinburgh
Text: How can a tent be compared with Picasso?
Liz, Brighton
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Royal Mail
Audience question: How can the Royal Mail justify making such a profit when it fails to reach any targets and the service is unreliable and a shambles?
You said:
The postmen delivering mail are not to blame but since Mrs Thatcher closed so many offices and the Post Office is more interested in promoting other activities, such as insurance etc, entering a Post Office is no longer a pleasure. There was a wonderful Post Office near St Bart's Hospital which was a pleasure to visit but that was sold off and you now have to queue in an awful and cluttered post office off Cheapside. I recently found letters my mother wrote to my father in 1945/1946 towards the end of the 2nd World War [my father was in Trieste] and my mother was dismayed when a letter from him took 12 days to reach London. I sent some calendars to friends in Italy after Christmas and they took 18 days.
Patricia Clark, London
I just wanted to comment on the issue of junk mail, I do not particularly like getting junk mail but, Posties get extra money for delivering junk mail, and quite frankly the morale in the postal service is quite shocking and I feel that the posties are doing a wonderful job and deserve our praise and if that means getting junk mail then so be it.
Aileen, Perth
I think the Royal Mail have lost sight of who the customers are. I run my business from home and, when the single delivery is adopted in this area, I have three choices: The first is to wait until whatever time the post arrives – secondly, I have been told I can collect from the sorting office, which means a 15/20 minute journey each morning, and a 4 mile trip and, lastly, I can pay a substantial amount to have an early timed delivery (I gather this is about £100 a week.) Imagine what my customers would say if I told them they have to come and collect their work from me, or pay an extra large amount to have it delivered.
Martin Smethers, Chorleywood, Hertfordshire
What's so wrong with Royal Mail? I've never had any problems with them! They do a great job – stop moaning!
G Wild, Peterborough
I paid for a mail-forwarding service three weeks ago – not one item has been redirected! Good thing I cleaned the oven for the new owner! Seriously, my partner worked at a sorting office until February – he was so disgusted by the inefficiency that he resigned. I have sent myself a letter to my old address every day since moving, and not one has been forwarded as I have paid for. Adam Crozier should be called to account.
Sam Alexander, Norwich
Text: I think the Royal Mail is great. Try having to collect your mail.
Suzie
Postal services worldwide (not just in Britain) are the only business I can think of that ask you to pay for something and do not guarantee that you get anything in return. In order to guarantee that you get what you pay for, you have to pay extra, i.e. pay for recorded delivery, insurance etc. Can you imagine, for example, buying a washing machine, and then paying extra to guarantee that it works?
Rita Kitto, Geneva
Text: Ban junk mail.
Chris
What I fail to understand is why the volume of mail is going up when the majority of communiqués are done by e-mail.
Wulstan Earley, London
Text: Competition can only work by paying people lower wages. Is that progress?
Bill, Warrington
Here in London we used to have a decent postal service. As soon as we received notice that they were ending the second delivery it became atrocious. I have missed many bills, we receive mail perhaps twice a week, first class takes up to a week to arrive, and two packages sent by my parents from the US have not arrived. I no longer have any faith in the post, and ask people to e-mail me instead.
Saskia, London
Text: I think Janet is pushing the envelope!
William, Sunderland
People should think themselves lucky if they get only one mail delivery. Our postman delivers our mail to our next-door neighbour because he can't be bothered to drive 500 yards up the lane. Complaining to the Post Office has made no difference. The panel feel sorry for the postman; if they had mine their view would be different.
Lee, Harpenden
Text: How bad would it be if we didn't have e-mail.
Paul, Windsor
My postman has to deliver junk mail through my letterbox daily even if there are no letters for me that day. This adds to his workload, thereby stopping him from efficiently delivering vital mail on time.
C M Tighe, Wigan
Text: The junk mail industry alone keeps the money rolling in.
LM
My father, who managed the most successful Christmas post ever back in 1989, puts the problem down to the fact that there are very few professional managers left in the service and with wages so low it is impossible to recruit the calibre of staff required to do the skilled jobs. The solution is, contrary to what Peter Hain says, political – put up the price of the post and allow adequate investment in both people and equipment.
Robert, Lewisham
Text: The postal delivery in my area is excellent.
Jane, Burgess Hill
What second delivery? We have not had one for 20 years.
Bryan Dexter, Carlisle
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Princess Michael of Kent
Audience question: If she cannot conduct herself appropriately and show respect to others, should Princess Michael of Kent be allowed to carry a royal title and therefore represent this country?
You said:
If she did make a remark about the colonies then it seems to me that she was talking to the noisy party as Americans, not in any racist way as jokes about our former colony America are common in the UK. I also doubt the account as one of the party interviewed on TV this morning quoted her as saying: "Enough already", a New York phrase not a British one. Finally, it is surely racist to assume the worst of a white person in that there is a prejudice to believe that in a quarrel they will be racist unless proved otherwise.
Edwin, Marlborough
I think debating what Princess Margaret did or didn't say is a waste of time as it is something we cannot do anything about.
Julie Keeling
Princess Michael of Kent is the victim here of outlandishly loud and badly behaved other diners. A decent restaurant would have ejected them. Hopefully the publicity will deter others using such a place.
James SG, London
Does Phil Willis understand that Princess Michael of Kent's alleged comments were intended to offend? I personally don't want to live in a world were everyone thinks and acts according to rules; how very dull that would be!
Chris Dennis, Harrogate
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General comments on the programme
You said:
I enjoyed last night's show, particularly for the honesty of Peter Hain. I am a Labour supporter and I think Blair has had a tough time of it with the press. However, should Blair ever decide enough is enough then Hain would be as good a leader as anyone.
Stuart Jones, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire.
I think Question Time needs to seriously re-think its policy of allowing "popular"(?) figures such as Julian Fellowes onto the panel. His comments on extradition were ill-informed claptrap while Peter Hain was trying to explain a complicated issue in calm and rational terms.
Robert Crosby, Nottingham
Please don't have that awful Street-Porter woman on again. She was so rude to everybody (except the Lib Dem), even laughing in contempt at the audience. We need informed people on the panel, who apart from her were excellent, as opposed to people who think Abu Hamza should be treated with care and respect!
Jon Harrison, York
Janet Street Porter's meanderings about rights Hamza was due etc etc was the best advertisement for the far right and the BNP I have ever heard in my live.
Nicholas Williams BSc.Econs, London, UK
Julian Fellowes, why aren't you an MP?
Max Hughes, Wolverhampton
My, how a leopard can change its spots! My husband and I remember the Peter Hain from decades back when he was nothing but a trouble-maker; repeatedly in the headlines demonstrating for the latest cause. Let's hope, for our sake, he really has changed his ways (and his spots).
Margaret, Attleborough
Janet Street-Porter is anxious to protect Hamza's right to free speech, even though that seems to amount mostly to calling for the deaths of Jews and Americans. But hamburger ads should be banned. Great sense of priorities.
James Hilley, London
Perhaps we should have a panel of 30 everyday people and an audience of MPs, celebrities, etc. We might get more of an insight into our society.
R Gavigan, Chichester
For the record, I have been a socialist all of my life, and remain so – but I would like to salute Julian Fellowes for his comments on Question Time. No doubt you will never see this Julian, but I for one think you are an intelligent man who speaks a lot of sense.
H Smith, Manchester
At last! A Question Time without ANY discussion about Iraq or the Middle East. Well done.
Maddy, Guernsey
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