I WENT along to take another look at Islington's fairness commission as a non-political person. I thought there was an improvement. For example this time they had some up-to-date information and there was a pensioner who gave a wonderful speech about the

I WENT along to take another look at Islington's fairness commission as a non-political person. I thought there was an improvement. For example this time they had some up-to-date information and there was a pensioner who gave a wonderful speech about the realities of being poor.

Yet when one commissioner stated that we should be supporting our local shops, the pensioner promptly pointed out that he didn't have that option economically. The same commissioner pointed out how great Islington was for people getting help with going on courses - yet a lot of the courses on offer have no true value to the tax payer.

The biggest reaction was generated by another commissioner who stated that she had observed that some teenagers fall pregnant for an easy life - assistance from the council, child credit, social housing. Yet they failed to understand that in most cases, it is is not the teenager, that has the problem but the politicians. If the child had some good options, like a good education, a career, some social prospects, then perhaps they would have a different attitude.

Then, another chap stated that anyone working 16 hours a week would stop quickly as there is no economic benefit to the person if they live in social housing with children. Again this is a political problem, where the structures should change resulting in profit for the person putting in the effort. - M.G. McElligott, Amwell Street, EC1.