A man of integrity

His is the latest in a series of ill-informed letters on social and health care spending and the so-called "missing million".

Mr Seale is neither insensitive nor hostile to protesting carers as Mr Hugh-Jones suggests.

Nor does he constantly make grossly offensive remarks about the disabled.

I have known Mr Seale for many years.

He is a man of integrity who cares deeply about all elements of social and health care in Oxfordshire.

Like everyone else at the county council, he would like to be able to offer more help to parents of disabled children who require respite care.

He made his remarks following a protest by well-intentioned people who, nevertheless, seem utterly impervious to the facts about the "missing" million.

Time after time, we have explained that this money had always been accounted for by social and health care and had simply not been reconciled with central accounting.

It could never have been used for any of the purposes put forward by the protesters.

Time after time, people have chosen not to listen.

I share Mr Seale's immense frustration with this situation.

We have every sympathy for parents who want more respite care.

We wish we could do more and we will continue to do all we can to meet their needs via the budgets we have.

That does not mean we will stand by and listen while people lambast the county council, using distortions that suit their own agendas. This cannot carry on.

KEITH MITCHELL

Leader, Oxfordshire County Council