I read with interest news that the Secretary of State for Education, David Blunkett, is to inject millions of pounds into instrumental teaching.

He is offering all local authorities the chance to strike a 50/50 deal in which the government would match their spending.

I do hope that City of York Council has submitted an appropriate bid by today's deadline, so that York's excellent peripatetic music service can be maintained and expanded in its present form.

York owes a great debt to its peripatetic teachers who set an enviable standard of excellence and who have, over the years, inspired and encouraged hosts of York school children to enjoy making music.

They deserve the boost that this injection of funds would generate.

Fiona Long,

The Green,

Upper Poppleton,

York.

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