MAY I address the “tampon tax” which is exercising half the population currently, and offer a solution?

One of the GPs from our practice in Thirsk, Dr Richard Hyles, is currently enjoying a well earned sabbatical by taking a “busman’s holiday”, expanding both his medical and geographical horizons as a doctor in Botswana. He is blogging his experiences (www.tompet1.co.uk) and one of his early posts identifies tampons as an essential part of his daily equipment.

This is not for the usual purpose, but for the emergency treatment of stab wounds – they are sterile, absorbent, easy to insert into a wound, and expand to stem the bleeding!

An immediate re-classification of the items as medical supplies would qualify them as presumably VAT exempt.

After all, in days gone by, when razor blades were among the items prohibited for Sunday trading, they were able to be sold if you happened to need them for emergency surgery!

Christopher M Purser, Sowerby, Thirsk

I HAVE been reading with interest about the amendment that had been brought in Parliament to abolish the five per cent “tampon tax” has been defeated. 

The Government believes that tampons are a luxury item and the tax should be maintained, whereas razors for men are considered an essential item and remain untaxed. 

My Conservative Member of Parliament, Rishi Sunak, voted in favour of maintaining this tax. 

Mr Sunak has a weekly report in your paper in which he says outlines what he has worked on that week but he never mentions what parliament votes on – he should do as it is part of what he does. In fact, he should tell us every time there is a vote and which way he voted and why. 

A Member of Parliament should talk to and consult with a wide range of people to enhance his knowledge of life. Mr Sunak should start by telling all his constituents through his weekly column who he consulted with on the “tampon tax”. Does he consider these are luxury items? And why he was in favour of maintaining the tax? 

Brian Tyldesley, Middleham