WE parents and carers of adults with a mental handicap, have, for the past few years, been fighting on their behalf - against the imposition of charges for attendance at day centres.

From the start, we have regarded it as an injustice and, on the part of the previous government, a back-door method of cutting their benefits.

At the same time that they cut the allocation of cash for social services to local authorities, discretionary powers to charge were granted, thus relieving themselves of responsibility should charges be introduced.

The present government has done nothing to improve this situation.

The result has been that the cost of being mentally handicapped and needing the services of a day centre varies according to where you live.

The amount deemed reasonable by different authorities for people on the same level of Income Support ranges from £1.55 to £22 a week.

In protest, many of us have declined to co-operate.

Our fight is not against the amount, but the principle of charging at all.

I am pleased to see, from your report (LET, February 1) that after five years and a national survey, MENCAP has reached the same conclusion as us and called for abolition of the charges.

Can we hope that some action will now result?

MARGARET DARWIN (Mrs), Willows Lane, Accrington.

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