I agree entirely with Richard Pask’s praise for the overall speed and efficiency with which the NHS vaccination programme is being carried out.

Nothing in my letter of Feb 5 suggests otherwise.

The government has been wise, on this occasion, to delegate to skilled professionals at local level who know and care about their work, backed up by the huge amount of communal good spirit from volunteers.

My principal point, which Mr Pask concedes by default, was the way in which language and data are manipulated for deceptive effect.

Nick Pritchard, in a contiguous letter, gives another example, this time from Mr Drax MP who cites as authority “plenty of evidence” without actually providing any.

BARRY TEMPEST

Dorchester