30 APRIL 1994, Page 28

Answers on a postcard

Sir: Perhaps I can set you a friendly chal- lenge? You say (City and Suburban, 23 April) that my primary purpose in life is the search for a weekly headline — and that many of my announcements do not survive the initial headlines.

I'd like to take issue with you on this. We have a press office to promote our new business ventures in order to help make them work. I cannot think of any business ventures we have promoted that we have either not yet begun or are not about to begin. Can you please give me some exam- ples?

Tony Banks and three other Labour MPs condemned our plans for County Hall (I assume for a different reason from your- self). Could you let me know what it is you dislike about what we plan and, perhaps more importantly, what you'd rather we (or someone else) used it for?

Richard Branson

Virgin Group of Companies, 120 Campden Hill Road, London W8