Saudi Arabia is a very conservative Muslim country and anyone who has lived and worked there will know how uncompromising the authorities are when it comes to the practice of Islam and the fact that all other faiths are officially banned.

There is no regard given for one moment to political correctness. There is a degree of respect for Christians as "people of the Book" but that's as far as it goes. There are no churches, no Christian clergy, and no Christian celebrations are permitted.

Having said that, within the restricted situation of the company camp where I worked (before I was a priest), the keeping of Christmas used to be permitted but in purely secular terms, and when Santa Claus duly arrived (by camel) and was installed in his grotto, both Saudi and Western employees' children stood in line together to receive a gift from him. He was seen by the Saudi families not as a symbol of a Christian feast but purely as a giver of a free gift to which they felt as entitled as the Western families. Some shops sold "Happy Holiday" cards but the word "Christmas" could not appear on them, nor any Christian symbolism.

When it came to a major Muslim celebration such as Ramadan, the rules of fasting were imposed equally on Muslims and non-Muslims alike. There were no concessions, no fear of offending Christian sensibilities – we were guests in their country and, as such, we were expected to respect and observe their celebrations (and other practices such as the ban on alcohol) or suffer the consequences in law.

By comparison, ours is a multi-faith society and people of whatever faith or denomination are free to practise their beliefs.

Having said that – and the efforts of Harriet Harman and her ilk aside –this is still (nominally at least) a Christian country and we don't have to apologise for that or for how we celebrate the festivals on our Christian calendar and, more to the point, I don't believe for one moment that the majority of non-Christians in this country would expect us to do so.

From: Fr Neil McNicholas, St Hilda's Parish, Whitby.

From: Andrew Fairbank, operations manager, Rollertech UK Ltd.

YOU will hopefully be pleased that I am a new 30-something (just!) convert to the weekend Yorkshire Post. Having not really read a newspaper for almost 20 years, I have found one which reflects my views on this glorious county and the universe that spins around it.

I must congratulate GP Taylor on his article regarding Christmas and the absurd political correctness that now appears to surround it.

Multi-cultural society is important as we enter the second decade of the millennium. However, we should preserve and enjoy our own and other cultures while living under common realistic government.

Trying to create one culture that fits all will ultimately leave this county at best beige and, at worst, a forgotten power on the world stage. He is right to assume that the good people of Yorkshire will have the resolve to celebrate regardless.

From: Brian Sheridan, Redmires Road, Sheffield.

AS an agnostic, I am still open to suggestion on spiritual matters so I took in the recent contributions from writer/vicar GP Taylor and your Religious Affairs Correspondent Michael Brown.

I hold no brief for New Labour, a fabrication to make so-called socialists electable, but I hope GP Taylor's religious, anti-government polemics do not become a regular feature. The idea that Christmas is being marginalised is laughable.

Political correctness has certainly gone too far but will the nanny state disappear with Gordon Brown? On his own admission, Taylor espouses the gluttony of December 25. His piece ignores the protracted materialistic excesses of a season which many of us dread.

Instead of Taylor's cocktail of evangelism and political meddling, I would like to hear much more from Michael Brown, whose recent report (Yorkshire Post, November 17) on problems facing both Anglicans and Catholics was, as usual, an impeccable example of clarity and impartiality.

From: John Wilson, Adela Shaw, Kirkbymoorside.

GP Taylor should check his facts before rushing into one of those seasonal "political correctness gone mad" stories more suited to the tabloids than to the Yorkshire Post. His claim that "more than two out of three companies have banned Christmas decorations from the office because of fears that they will offend people from different religious faiths" is not recent at all. It dates from 2006.

Why do you give this man space to air his bigotry? I believe that published articles like this run the serious risk of fuelling fear and feeding racism. I'm happy to go on record as loving all things British about Christmas, both religious and secular. That doesn't make me a racist, and I don't know anybody who says it does, despite your silly claim. My Christmas is about peace and goodwill to all. If your Christmas means that even one person is subjected to racist attack in the name of defending it, then you, GP Taylor and your ilk might like to consider your responsibility.

From: Alfred Gabb, Overton, York.

I WAS so pleased to read the gutsy article by GP Taylor, suggesting an end to the nonsense about stopping the Christian celebrations of Christmas in Britain by a few ignorant people in local government, on the pretence that it may offend other religions.

I have spent a good part of my life living and working in Ghana, Pakistan and India (in which latter country I was born), both during and since British Colonial rule, and can vouch for the fact that the majority of inhabitants, of the many religions of these countries, cheerfully enjoyed the Christmas celebrations, too, as I know that they do in Britain also.


Flood toll as climate starts to change

From: Nigel Bywater, Airedale Terrace, Morley, Leeds.

The Environment Secretary, Hilary Benn, said the downpour in Cumbria that caused flooding in Cockermouth may have resulted in "the wettest day ever recorded".

Coming from the Environment Secretary, I find it amazing that he did not also comment on the possible cause of this flood. Comparisons based on a global weather records going back to 1925 suggest that levels of rainfall across the UK have increased steadily by an average of 6.2 millimetres every decade.

So what did cause "the wettest day ever recorded"? Was it an act of God, or just a once-in-500-years weather event?

Analysis by the Met Office's Hadley Centre found that climate change brought wetter conditions in the southern tropics and sub-tropics. It also found a link between global warming and drier conditions in the northern tropics and sub-tropics.

Climate change has not gone away. It may well be that governments cannot stop climate change; but they can bring in measures to make people safer from the extremes of our changing climate.

From: John Parker, Station Road, Baildon, Shipley.

I JOIN all other people who sympathise with those unfortunate families who have suffered from the flooding after the torrential rain in Cumbria and south-west Scotland.

This is an appropriate time to ask the primitives in Gordon Brown's Government of no talents for some more details of their plans to build houses on the flood plains of our rivers.

From: EC Witt, Wrenbury Grove, Leeds.

WHEN major floods occur overseas, it almost immediately leads to appeals for donations for those affected.

Is there not a good case for a similar appeal to help our own folk in Cumbria, many of whom apparently were unable to insure because of the area in which they live?

Gordon Brown has promised a million pounds from the Government of course, but insurers claim that losses will amount to many millions.

Surely there must be many others, like myself, who shudder at the thought of how I would cope in such circumstances. Who would be happy to donate?

From: Terry Duncan, Greame Road, Bridlington, East Yorkshire.

SURELY the Government or local county council could provide large mobile shops to be situated in the streets of the flood-hit areas of Cumbria in order to provide necessary supplies, like bread, meat, hardware, newspapers, postal services, and also advice centres?


Laundry laziness

From: Phil Penfold, Lawn Road, Doncaster, South Yorkshire.

I MAY be getting very cynical as old age advances, but I somehow doubt that economy and thrift are the real reasons for Leeds University sporting science student Adam Gadsby sending his 10 bags of filthy linen home to Guildford by courier, for his mother to process (Yorkshire Post, November 21).

Could it possibly be more likely that the 20-year-old is just bone idle, and too lazy to bung the stuff in the nearest washing machine, and then (perish the thought) to iron it? And here's a suggestion for Debbie, Adam's mother – when the stinking vanload arrives, try saying: "No thanks, wrong address, return to sender."

It might teach your little lad a lesson that all students should learn in their first term away from home – the one about achieving some degree of independence, and finally standing on your own two feet.

What's the betting that wee Adam's freezer is also stocked up with food parcels from his doting mum? Grow up, son.


The right approach to ordeal of child migrants

From: David Hinchliffe, Former MP for Wakefield and Chairman of Health Select Committee 1997-2005.

IF Tom Richmond had read the Health Select Committee's report on the child migrants sent abroad from British children's homes, my guess is that he wouldn't have criticised the Prime Minister for having a dialogue with their representatives before issuing an apology (Yorkshire Post, November 21).

My involvement with that inquiry is something I shall never forget. We met hundreds of former migrants who had been sent from their own country, been lied to as to their natural families and experienced serious physical and sexual abuse in institutions abroad run by the likes of the Christian Brothers. Many of them to this day do not know their real names or why they were sent.

The Government accepted most of the Committee's recommendations and a lot of the former migrants have been rehabilitated with their "lost" British families as a consequence. But there remains a concern that certain of the agencies sending these children away have not released all of the information in their possession on the individual migrants involved. Its publication could enable some of them to finally find out exactly who they are and where they are from.

My belief is that the Prime Minister's review of this issue will focus, in particular, on the remaining missing records.

Far from being incapable of decisiveness, Gordon Brown's approach to this very difficult issue is absolutely right.


Benefits for pensioners

From: Tom Howley, Wetherby.

MILLIONS of state pensioners will receive notification of payment of the annual fuel tax allowance. Many of them will criticise the Labour Government, and are right to do so. But they should also give credit for the continued payment of the fuel tax, for the bus pass, for free prescriptions and eye tests, for the introduction of a free television licence for the over-75s and also for the commitment to restore the link between earnings and the state pension.

Perhaps, also, pensioners should ask the question: would a Conservative government have introduced these measures and, if elected, will they continue to meet these commitments?


Dales homes

From: RD Leakie, Giggleswick, Settle.

WITH reference to various articles in the Yorkshire Post concerning the construction of "affordable homes" in the Dales.

With respect, people who use the term "affordable housing", which they wish to plant in the Yorkshire Dales, are in fact seeking second homes, and the term "affordable housing" should be banned.