I note that you regard variations in care charges across the country to be a “disgrace” (Oxford Mail, April 30). There are some dangers in this argument, which you may not have considered sufficiently.

Firstly, unifying care charges may be equated with nationalising the social care service.

That is transferring management from the local level to Whitehall. Is this what you really want?

It implies accountability to MPs with constituencies of about 80,000 electors, rather than to councillors with an average electorate of 8,000 electors. Would this be an improvement in local accountability?

Secondly, it implies that differences in wage and other costs between different parts of the country should be ironed out in a national care system.

I am not clear why residents should pay the same care charges everywhere in the country, when earnings levels may be very different.

Finally, and this returns to the first point, I am unconvinced that service provision will improve when it is run on a uniform basis by bureaucrats in Whitehall, rather than to reflect local needs at a local government level.

Answers on a postcard, please.

Keith R Mitchell

Leader of the Council

County Hall

Oxford