Test and trace has been described as “barely functional” (Covid-19: UK test and trace ‘barely functional’ as 11 million face lockdown, 18 September). Perhaps one reason for this is that Matt Hancock and his team may be barely functional either, given their zealous “night and day”, “round the clock” work ethic that the health secretary keeps reminding us of. With more sleep and a fresher approach, it just might have occurred to them that schools and businesses reopening would have inevitably increased demand for an effective test-and-trace system.
Catherine Dornan
Llandrindod Wells, Powys
• Can we ask Christopher Thomond to go out one night and photograph how many windows are lit at 4am in various ministries?
Chris Thompson
Oxford
• Jacob Rees-Mogg wishes we’d stop carping about shortages of Covid-19 tests (Report, 17 September). I take it grousing is still permitted?
Tim Craig
London
• We must admire the perspicacity of the Whitehall watchdog that dismissed “concerns of a ‘perceived risk’ that [employing Chris Grayling] may give the firm an unfair advantage” (Chris Grayling lands £100k job advising some of UK’s top ports, 17 September).
Tony Neal
Tealby, Lincolnshire
• Do we have another fiasco to brace ourselves for as “According to the Cabinet Office document … The software will help with ‘delivery of one of the best borders in the world for 2025’” (UK awards border contract to firm criticised over role in US deportations, 17 September)?
Anthea Falk
Little Marlow, Buckinghamshire
