Allan Smith

If, as he said at Wednesday's budget meeting, Cllr Rob Waltham believes in a free market, can he inform the local people why he thinks North Lincolnshire Council should provide extra subsidy to the region's bus companies?  After all, it was his Conservative group that privatised the bus services in the late 1980s and forced this mess on us all.

I don't believe in the free market for public services and perhaps Cllr Waltham should look at his own group and their policies before making such hypocritical statements in the future!

I would like to pay tribute to the team behind Meet Me In St Louis, which I watched at the Plowright Theatre on Friday night. The Wilton Productions team were incredible and made for a thoroughly enjoyable occasion. There was a capacity attendance, a pit orchestra and some fantastic performances.  It was absolutely wonderful.

This weekend I also enjoyed watching the BBC1 drama Lark Rise To Candleford which just goes to show that you don't need lots of sex and violence to provide for entertaining viewing.

I read with interest comments from Hollywood filmmaker Steven Spielberg who has decided to pull out as artistic adviser to the Beijing Olympics over China's human rights record. He has said his conscience would not allow him to continue his work.

I have to agree and I back Mr Spielberg's stance. Their human rights record is absolutely appalling. I feel that it is wrong for headteachers and schools to visit China in an attempt to forge links.  Would they have visited South Africa during Apartheid?

I feel it is morally wrong for other people to back what China is doing and I feel more pressure must be put on the Chinese to improve their human rights record before we offer further assistance and look to forge more links.  If I was offered the chance to visit China I just would not go.