IoS letters, emails & online postings (8 December 2013)

Your article on the changes to the GP contract misunderstands how they will affect patient care ("Doctors ignore 'wonder-drug'... fresh air) 1 December 2013). Previously the GP contract prevented GPs from offering meaningful exercise advice, since it diverts them to filling in laborious surveys of limited clinical value that ask patients how much time they spend on gardening, DIY and housework.

GPs, like all doctors, are committed to promoting a healthy lifestyle. Thanks to the changes to the GP contract negotiated between the government and the British Medical Association, GPs will have more time to look at the patient in front of them and advise on the benefits of exercise, and less time spent filling in boxes on a computer screen.

Dr Chaand Nagapul

Chair, BMA's GP committee

London WC1

Katy Guest uses the term equalitist in connection with the sharing of parental leave and other issues between men and women. Please can we have a similar term for being fair to single people? I think a single person would get a short answer if he/she asked for six months off. Most political policies are aimed at "hard-working families". Don't single people work hard?

Rob Edwards

Harrogate, North Yorkshire

Your report ("Gold-diggers thwarted by Ancient Rome", 1 December) suggests that the publication of an archaeology report into the Roman mines of Rosia Montana in Romania will make it "difficult for the Romanian government to deny the contribution that the area makes to world culture".

Nobody denies the mines are of historic and archaeological interest. The pressing requirement is to pursue a realistic option to rescue and preserve them. This is why the Rosia Montana Gold Corporation is investing $150m (£92m) in research and archaeology. This involves rescuing the ancient mining galleries beneath the protected village of Rosia Montana, and opening a world-class museum of mining, celebrating the unbroken history of mining since Roman times. This will sit alongside a modern working mine, providing employment for thousands, and a long-overdue revival of the local economy.

Granting the area world heritage status would preclude mining taking place, and consign the local population to further economic degradation.

Adrian Gligor

Vice-president, Rosia Montana Gold Corp

Rosia Montana, Romania

Rupert Cornwell (1 December) calls for President Obama to pardon people, not turkeys.

Since the American Civil War, only one US soldier has been shot for desertion. Eddie Slovik, singled out from thousands, including generals, who "fled to the rear in panic" from the German breakthrough in the Battle of the Bulge. Eisenhower approved the execution. Seven presidents in a row have rejected all calls for a pardon.

Norman Duff

Sheffield, South Yorkshire

In naming his top 10 monarchs, Sir Michael Barber (The New Review) omits the greatest of all: George VI, who was forced to accept that colonial empire would become the more democratic Commonwealth, with the loss of India, Burma and the Republic of Ireland.

Ian McKenzie

Lincoln

Far from attempting to restrict participation in sports, Hackney Council's leisure and physical activity development team has been working with local groups to open up sport to everyone, and in particular to women's and girls' groups ("Rising fees force the next David Beckham off the pitches", 24 November).

We have been working with the women's football team Hackney Laces for more than a year, to assist them in the development of their club and, in turn, women's and girls' football throughout the borough.

We have provided free use of a council facility for their under-14s to play in a friendly league. The council has supported Hackney Laces under-16s entry into the Capital Girls League by providing the pitches at Mabley Green as a free home venue. The council has also supported another girl's team, ReachOut FC U14's, to join the Capital League.

Jonathan McShane

Cabinet member for health, social care and culture

London Borough of Hackney

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Letters to the Editor, The Independent on Sunday, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5HF. Email: sundayletters@independent.co.uk. Online: independent.co.uk/dayinapage/2013/December/8