IN respect of the recent reports published into research on begging in Glasgow city centre, they describe the problems we already knew.

The report missed out one important thing in respect of what is the council actually doing other than engaging with beggars and working with other organisations? Is it working to ask the police to use their powers to move beggars away from front premises of small businesses ? Is it working towards a bylaw for Sauchiehall Street, Buchanan Street and Argyle Street to stop persistent beggars and what about the shock effect on the tourism industry?

Name and address supplied

Pass it on, John

HOW on earth can MSP John Mason waste time on whether he should use his new bus pass or not. (Evening Times July 24).

Get real John, concentrate on the major problems we have with poverty, unemployment, education and the NHS to name but a few.

The homeless and sick couldn't care less about how you travel.

John what difference does it make whether you use your bus pass or pay the fare?

Like most MPs and MSPs I'm sure you'll claim it on your expenses!

FMK, by email

Straight talking

THROWING money at schools in Glasgow’s poor districts won’t help close the attainment gap in schools (Evening Times July 25).

The "gap" has to be widened by removing the thousands of their children who cannot read, write, speak or communicate in English from mainstream education.

Whilst extra time, and money, is being spent on those who cannot communicate in English, the education of our children is stagnate.

Angus McKay, posted online

Gap will widen

AS long as the SQA remain in charge of attainment, the gap will not reduce.

The current system of examinations and assignments favours parents with the means to 'support' their children with more than reasonable assistance.

It has of course always been thus, but now with pre-prepared assignments making up to a third of a Higher grade, the gap will widen.

A quick google search will find many tutors willing to 'help' pupils with their assignments.

John McKay, posted online

Teachers matter

MY son started primary in 1970. I had taught him the basics or reading.

He was able to read all of his first book on the first night. Unfortunately, the teacher only gave him one page per week.

My son was able to recite the sentences as soon as he saw the first word. This resulted in the headmistress refusing to give him a new reading book at the start of the next term.

It wasn't until his 3rd year in primary that he got an older teacher who got the whole class through five books. Maybe the methods of teaching should be looked at.

Marion Mulholland, Barrhead