I AM sorry that Martin Taylor thinks that I snubbed his meeting ('Disabled group's anger at MP's "snub"', April 27). That was not my intention.

I have attended other meetings and initiatives organised by Martin, and have met him many times to discuss how to improve services for people with learning difficulties.

On this occasion he made arrangements with another MP to speak on behalf of the Labour Party, but asked me to step in a few days before the meeting when my colleague cancelled. Unfortunately I could not do so, because I had agreed to attend other events in York on the day and I did not want to let those people down.

Any York residents who attended the meeting, and were disappointed not to hear me debate with other political parties, will have the opportunity to do so. I have already agreed to attend an Any Questions meeting with the other candidates, to be organised by York Council for Voluntary Services and York Council of Churches during the election campaign.

Predictably, the Conservative candidate for York has jumped on the bandwagon and criticised me for not attending Martin's meeting, pointing out that he travelled from his home on Tyneside for the meeting. I congratulate him for visiting our city.

When the roles were reversed, and I was a Labour candidate, York's then Conservative MP turned down every single request from voluntary bodies for the two of us to attend meetings together.

By contrast I am prepared to debate with him - indeed I did so a few weeks ago at Friends Meeting House - and I shall do so again.

Hugh Bayley MP.

Holgate Road,

York.

Updated: 10:52 Tuesday, May 01, 2001