MADAM,

Professor Richard Pates (Disgust at political views, 14th December) is completely wrong to say I called for dental checks on “all” child migrants arriving from Calais and that these checks are inaccurate.

I suggested they would be an appropriate way to ensure people who appear to be much older than 18 are properly checked and are not simply lying about their age in order to gain entry to the UK. The tests are accurate to within four years, meaning anyone who appears older than 22 should be examined. The alternative is to run the risk of placing adult men into children’s homes and school classrooms, with obvious threats to child welfare.

Despite the somewhat hysterical reaction from some sections of the press, I entirely stand by my comments.

David T C Davies MP

(Monmouth)