Letter: Patten's refusal

Sir: I was incensed by the complacent arrogance of John Patten, Secretary of State for Education, in his reasons for refusing to meet a group of parent teacher association members in London. According to his office ('Patten calls education protesters neanderthal', 28 January), he had too many other engagements.

He somehow, however, managed to find time to be interviewed on Radio 4, mainly about why he was not prepared to meet the delegation of PTA members.

Would not his time have been better employed talking with the people who had travelled to London in the hope of sharing with him their concerns about their children's education?

Yours faithfully,

HELEN DALTON

Datchet, Berkshire