SIR – David Cameron’s “troubled families”. I don’t get the jump from 129,000 to a massive half a million. That is a big increase. Does it mean the previous policy has failed? And Mr Cameron is trying a new policy with half a million families in trouble?

We would expect the figures to reduce if the policy is working. I do understand that anything the Government does is likely to be seen as electioneering with the election just nine months away. It would be unfair if poor families become election campaign pawns.

Max Nottingham, St Faith’s Street, Lincoln