In 1932 British Rail Carriage Works were told that asbestos was a dangerous substance.

Our menfolk who have died in the past ten years were not old enough to work at the carriage shops back then.

But later, in the 50s and 60s, the management allowed them to work - without protection - with, and surrounded by, asbestos.

Why has no one from the carriage works been prosecuted for allowing our men to work in these hazardous conditions?

The two brothers from Leeds who admitted allowing schoolboys to remove asbestos from a factory (Evening Press, April 17) got community service because the judge would have to wait years to see if any of their employees died prematurely from this industrial-related disease.

More than 60 men have died as a result of negligence in the carriage shops.

When is someone from British Rail going to be prosecuted?

Please do not say the families of the men from the works got compensation.

How much must it have cost the unions to pay for solicitors for years of litigation to get the minimum from British Rail?

Even now there are those who are still waiting for compensation.

In 30, 40 or even 50 years will these two brothers get off as lightly as British Rail has managed to do in York?

Mrs Kitty Heslop,

Telford Terrace,

York.

...beyond the obvious concern for the boys in the asbestos 'factory' court case and their future health status, at least this time the despicable perpetrators of said crime were brought to book, albeit with relatively light sentences.

The history of irresponsibility regarding the use and misuse of asbestos is littered with such incidents.

This despite massive and detailed scientific evidence concerning the dangers arising from the use of all asbestos products!

Successive governments have failed miserably to act dynamically to eradicate all further use of this highly dangerous substance.

While blue and brown asbestos were banned after many years' use, much remains in homes and other buildings.

This is a toxic time-bomb awaiting its release into our air, water (and lungs!) through uncontrolled demolition and removal practices.

Or it could even be released into the air by fire.

As for white asbestos (chrysotile) found in many everyday products, plus farm buildings, garage roofing, car brakes etc (and despite being highly toxic via dust and fibre release from its use), the position remains one of government 'back-pedalling' regarding its ultimate, and overdue, banning from further use in this country. Meanwhile in homes, offices, schools, factories, and farms, the toxic time-bomb that is asbestos ticks away. It is a testament to man's folly and legislative intransigence.

If any of your readers would like information on asbestos, contact The Occupational and Environmental Diseases Association, Mitre House, 66 Abbey Road, Bush Hill Park, Enfield, Middlesex EN1 2OH.

H O Griffiths,

Wood Street,

Norton,

Malton.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.