I challenge York's MP Hugh Bayley to be honest and accountable about problems within his department regarding inaccurate assessments by DSS doctors on Incapacity Benefit claimants.

Chris Clayton wrote that he could "no longer vote Labour" because of the government's "evil legislation... introduced by Hugh Bayley," (Letters, May 31).

I asked Hugh Bayley last year to tell me, under the freedom of information code, how many claimants had complained of inaccurate medical assessments by DSS doctors. He refused, giving various excuses.

Later I received the information after asking the DSS Permanent Secretary, Rachel Lomax, which confirmed that 3,925 complaints had been made about inaccurate medicals in 1998-99 - about 16 for every working day.

This information in the public interest was refused me by Mr Bayley "due to difficulties in presenting it in a manner and context that gives it proper meaning to those unfamiliar with the system."

In other words, he believes only he can decide if the public is too stupid to be allowed access to facts which embarrass his accountability, and he is happy to be part of this Government's control-freakery.

He then puts himself forward as a good socialist for York's working class voters, many of whom rely on benefits.

John Simpson,

Geldof Road,

Huntington, York.