MR Derbyshire seems to forget the council taxpayer who is contributing to his grandchildren's education.

Is he prepared to repay the cost of the education places he chooses to forego to take his children on holiday in order to reduce the cost of that education to the taxpayer?

He also forgets the children in school who cannot afford holidays, their feelings and impact upon them when these children return to school full of excitement in relating the recent experiences. Not forgetting, of course, the time required to bring his grandchildren up to date in classes.

Having children requires sacrifices. It may require having a family holiday every two years instead of once a year, taking one-week holidays, staying at home.

It is unfair to the taxpayer and the adults who have done their "stint" who now take their holidays in term time specifically to avoid children to support children being taken out of school simply for a holiday.

This Government has increased taxes considerably, at the expense of adults and especially the elderly, to give various advantages to children. It is simply unfair to expect those of us paying for them to support them further.

Phil Burrows

Blackburn Road

Egerton, Bolton