I QUITE agree with Councillor John McCartney, that to give a computer to each Selby councillor is a waste of council tax payers' money (April 19). After all, a computer will be of little use to any councillors who are not computer literate; any councillors who are computer literate probably have computers of their own already.

What will happen where there are two councillors in one household? Will they have to share, or get one each?

If the idea is to provide access to email facilities, this can be done without a computer. And who would have to pay for any Internet surfing carried out by councillors on their free computers?

I am sure every household in the area would dearly love to own a computer. Many people cannot afford one, but they are being expected to provide free ones for councillors.

We should rather ensure that Internet facilities are provided publicly for everyone to use, for instance in libraries and community centres, to allow wider access to the world wide web - such facilities could also be used by councillors who didn't have their own computers.

Pamela Ross,

Bank House,

Market Place,

Cawood, Selby.

Updated: 10:50 Tuesday, May 01, 2001