IN response to your article 'Labour pledge to kids is axed' and leader (October 10), Labour is proud of its record in running this city.

You are right to criticise us for not delivering our pledge on computers for primary school children, but not to say it was a sham. We are working to meet the underlying objective of providing good access to IT facilities and e-learning for our children through other means.

Prior discussions did take place on the pledge, with officers and the industry, considering feasibility and affordability. However, developments in technology, a much tighter financial position, and a change in the council's overall control (with the two other parties opposing our pledge) have led us to look for other ways to meet the objective.

For example, we have 11 libraries with free computer facilities, including Internet access, scanners, webcams and the latest software packages, which will be extended to the remaining three libraries by the year end.

In our schools, we have achieved the national target of one PC for every 11 children in primary schools and are making good progress towards the next target for 2004.

We now believe the way forward will be through an "e-learning foundation", ensuring every school pupil will have access to a personal portable computer within five years.

We have secured a grant to help fund a York e-learning foundation, ensuring all children, irrespective of their background, have access to the same opportunities.

I hope your readers will accept that we have not walked away from what we set out to achieve, even though we cannot now implement the pledge in its original form, as I said at council when I first became leader.

Councillor Dave Merrett,

Leader,

City of York Council,

Guildhall, York.

...SO City Of York Council has apologised for not being able to give every school pupil a computer.

What about the more staggering fact that our children over the age of 16 have to pay full fare on the buses?

This whole business of catchment areas for school passes is bizarre. Some councils have the rule that at primary, the distance is two miles; at junior it is three and post 16 it is five. Perhaps it is based on how long your legs have grown?

It has been a long time since our tender aged kids have been forced "up't chimneys or down't pit", so why isn't it reflected in free bus passes for all school pupils?

Phil Shepherdson,

Chantry Close, Woodthorpe, York.

Updated: 10:08 Monday, October 14, 2002