Pamela Stephenson Connolly offers advice on oral sex (Sexual healing, G2, 30 January) and implies that all is well "assuming you've had a genital check-up and there's no bacterial infection". I think readers should be aware of the marked rise in the incidence of oral cancer in young people, who don't have the typical risk factors of heavy alcohol and tobacco use. The latest research shows that this is related to human papillomavirus, transmitted during oral sex. The standard checkups offered to both men and women will not necessarily pick this up. Oral cancer is now more common than cervical cancer and testicular cancer put together, both of which rightly receive media attention. There is less wareness of oral cancer and its link to oral sex.
Dr Denis Colligan
Manchester
• Our son is working towards an engineering diploma which – when we committed to it – we were assured would be recognised as equivalent to five GCSEs. Mr Gove has now decided it is to count as one (Letters, 3 February). We are currently discussing Tom's options for sixth form. The minister could help us by revealing which A-level courses he intends to downgrade in the years ahead.
Rob and Sally Elding
Ramsey, Cambridgeshire
• A politician and a choreographer both apparently happy to be photographed standing on public benches (G2, 2 February, pages 6 and 16). Do we really need to be told any more about them?
Chris Gent
Nottingham
• So that's how the Gruffalo was made (Arts, G2, 31 January)? Actually, he's been around since 1902, in Vienna – when he appeared in Klimt's Beethoven Frieze.
Malcolm Balen
London
• In Scotland we keep warm in bed with earthenware pigs, not stony pegs (Letters, 3 February). No wonder we want independence when we are constantly misrepresented in this way.
JMY Simpson
Aberdeen
• Surely it would be surprising if the JCB Academy did not do "ground-breaking work" (Letters, 3 February).
Drew Ratter
Ollaberry, Shetland