Saturday's Letters: Wrong people are paying for the sins of others

That said, what is the result? Everyone, it seems, bar the bankers will pay.

Wait until next month just to see if you still have a job. Clearly, there has got to be savings and I have no problem with the Social Security budget coming under long overdue scrutiny with particular regard to that section of the community that has been systematically milking it for years.

It appears, however, that the bankers will get off scot free, with their bonuses intact.

What message does this send to them? Well, how about: "We got away with it this time and were rewarded, so let's leave it for a decent interval like until next year before gambling away the hard-earned cash of Joe Public for a second time and another bonus."

I should like to see these (in my view) parasites hit with 100 per cent tax on their unearned bonanza which it seems can amount to 100 or even 140 per cent of salary.

There is fat chance of this happening. Bankers and many influential MPs will undoubtedly be members of the little boys' club with doubtless a smattering of little girls now joining the ranks.

Sorry if I sound cynical, it appears large numbers of the wrong people will as usual pay the price for the sins of others.

From: Bob Swallow, Townhead Avenue, Settle, North Yorkshire.

Suspension that hurts companies

From: J Jervis, Hunmanby, North Yorkshire.

HAVING just been informed by Yorkshire Forward that two major funding schemes for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have been frozen, the question has to be asked, what has our Regional Development Agency done with this year's already established funding budget?

Is it attempting to waste it on a Leeds Arena or some other such "big bang" type project that actually, in terms of a return on investment, achieves far less than supporting Yorkshire businesses?

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has produced a strategy document – A Model for Sustainable and Balanced Growth. In the investment section, it states that "research and innovation are essential investments for the UK economy, because the introduction of new products, services and processes is the major source of growth in the long term". Absolutely correct and of huge importance to the SME sector in Yorkshire.

The strategy outlined contains all the right phrases and platitudes. The question is, will delivery be achieved?

The question raised by this decision to freeze such schemes is what are Yorkshire Forward or BIS trying to achieve? Playing political games? Unfortunately, many businesses are being damaged by this game, businesses that we all need to succeed if the UK is ever to get itself out of the mess left over by the previous government.

Vince Cable and his team, who are responsible for these grant schemes (they are only administered by Yorkshire Forward), need to sort this suspension of schemes out quickly to the benefit of the entire UK economy.

Bring back conductors

From: Keith Nunn, Burton Street, Farsley, Leeds.

IT was interesting to read the brief news article "City sees return of bus conductors" regarding the two "street conductors" being introduced to Sheffield's congested city centre streets (Yorkshire Post, September 14).

What about re-introducing good old-fashioned bus conductors in West Yorkshire? This redundant species was last spotted on Leeds' buses decades ago, and is well overdue a return to its rightful habitat on our beleaguered public transport system.

Just imagine the benefits: allowing the driver to concentrate on the road; dealing with troublesome passengers; helping the frail, disabled and pregnant to find their way safely on and off the bus; striking up a rapport with passengers and – who knows – even cheering

them up.

Bus conductors are a species we could ill afford to lose in the first place. Their presence would be invaluable, like it was before. Please bring them back, not on the streets, but on our county buses.

Drivers and conductors in partnership would enhance many people's bus experience.

Beyond beliefs

From: Maureen Hunt, Woolley, near Wakefield.

I AGREE wholeheartedly with Brian Sheridan's reply (Yorkshire Post, September 9) to my letter about Richard Dawkins (Yorkshire Post, September 2). Terrible suffering has indeed been inflicted in the name of Christianity, such as the Spanish Inquisition, but it was the perpetrators that were to blame, not God.

Mr Sheridan has a good sense of humour and could well be right when he asserts that, "If Professor Dawkins were to have the Damascene experience... he would probably ascribe it to a cerebral malfunction and consult a neurologist". I'm still chuckling.

Bernard Dineen once wrote that he thought Christians were too meek and overly inclined to turn the other cheek.

Richard Dawkins has been described as an Evangelist for Science, which is certainly his god. It is a cold, tyrannical deity with no tolerance or respect for those with other beliefs and no understanding or knowledge of the heart or spirituality.

Mr Sheridan, with his customary sense of fair play, may consider it only just if, in the face of such hostility, Christians strive to redress the balance.

Valuable lessons

From: Audrey Edwards, Buttfield Road, Howden, East Yorkshire.

REGARDING Conal Gregory's article "Children need to learn that every penny counts" (Yorkshire Post, September 3), they certainly do. But we children in the West Riding of Yorkshire were very fortunate. In 1935, the council gave us children a china mug to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of King George V and Queen Mary. We were also given a lovely propelling pencil, older children a fountain pen. Much treasured!

At the same time, as mentioned, Yorkshire Penny Bank gave us a blue bank book with a shilling in. From then on, I took three shillings and sixpence every week to Miss Hutton our teacher (apart from "race week" when uncle stayed with us in Brodsworth, then I took a five pound note). Miss Hutton said that she had a dream about me and only taken a shilling for my savings.

She was a very good teacher. We learned our tables parrot fashion which stood me in good stead helping dad while on holiday, with my special small milk can and half pint ladle and two churns, two lads and cans, in a huge open top tourer going around the mining villages with milk. A basin would be placed outside back doors, occasionally a note requesting a "quart" and that was when my tables came in useful as I recited them with the ladle at the ready. My Yorkshire Bank book, my teacher and the West Riding County Council taught us never to buy anything unless you can afford it.

Conal, keep on with your good advice.

A tour of the church with a memorable guide

From: Edward Abbott, Longwood Close, Leeds, West Yorkshire.

CONGRATULATIONS on the splendid restoration of the timbered "gatehouse" at Bolton Percy, (Yorkshire Post magazine, September 11).

This brought to mind a boyhood summer holiday during the war (1942). My pal and I were 15. Having cycled from Leeds, we entered this fascinating church. Already inside was a clergyman we assumed was the vicar – he did, though, have a purple shirt. He took us around and enlarged on the features. The effigy of Lord Ferdinand Fairfax, of Nun Appleton Hall stood out with its wrought iron surround. He had led the Roundhead army in the early part of the civil war in Yorkshire.

But his son Sir Thomas Fairfax of Bilbrough was even more famous. He was the creator of the New Model Army and victor at Marston Moor; his deputy was someone called Cromwell. Fairfax was to withdraw from public life because of Cromwell's rule through generals in 11 administration districts and also because of conflict over the future of the Church.

The "vicar" accompanied us back to our bikes at the "gatehouse". This was in a sad state. Entry was barred because of the unsafe floors. The interior had become a roost for pigeons.

He wondered if the Youth Hostel Association would accept it as a gift but he doubted they would have funds for restoration – which the parish church certainly did not have. This clergyman would have been delighted with what has now been achieved. He went on to explain that he was the Suffragan Bishop of Selby in the diocese of York, that Selby Abbey "belonged" to the vicar there, but that Bolton Percy church was "his" church.

The road to safer driving

From: Mrs Mary Ashworth, Shaw Lodge, Shaw Hill, Halifax, West Yorkshire.

IN response to the letter from Andrew Bullivant (Yorkshire Post, August 30) highlighting the hazards of being a HGV driver, I know full well where this man is coming from.

I have for many years thought that when someone is being taught to drive there should be some facility for instructors to take the learner driver to have a go on every mechanical vehicle – be it a pedal cycle, motorcycle, car, bus, rigid and articulated lorries.

Another valuable lesson would be to go on the skid pan. Only people who have had that experience know what it feels like and I am sure that the lessons learned would stand the learners in good stead and make them better qualified drivers.

Penalty area for referees

From: John Bolton, Gregory Springs Mount, Mirfield.

PERHAPS the training of league football referees would be improved by introducing the sentencing tariff, as explained by Paul Firth (Yorkshire Post, September 13)?

Too often, we see a referee rush to flash a yellow card early in a game as if to put his stamp on matters, show who's boss, when a free kick and quiet word would serve the purpose.

Having set a precedence, red cards have to follow, almost inevitably.

Why the maximum sanction isn't used to stamp out the ugly "rugby type" penalty area mauls that now brings so much disrepute to the game, I fail to understand.

Scots clown

From: Trev Bromby, Sculcoates Lane, Hull.

I SEE Alex Salmond, clown prince of Scotland, is displaying his usual brand of crassitude.

Just as his cries for independence stop ringing in our ears, he is calling for every party in Scotland to unite against English plans to take work away from Scotland: "England, we need you!"

Does Mr Salmond want independence, or does he want Animal Farm policies

that he can change and manipulate to suit his political barometer?

I suggest he gets a hat with three pom poms so all can recognise him for the clown he portrays himself to be.

Unfair lady

From: Brian Sheridan, Redmires Road, Sheffield.

WILLIAM Snowden doesn't like bullies (Yorkshire Post, September 14). That is, apart from Margaret Thatcher.