Readers' letters - July 28

I suggest greed is the reason we are all in the mess we are. Back in the ’70s we began to see massive inflation and I guess it was natural that people wanted wage rises just to keep a stable income. Sadly. it was the start of an endless spiral.

For every wage increase, an employer had to increase his prices until his business was no longer viable. As a result, it was cheaper to import coal from Russia and clothing from China than to produce our own, businesses folded and workers became the unemployed.

We now own little of our own country – depending on investment from overseas and private companies to provide us with jobs. Have we learnt anything from this? Of course not.

Greed leads people to believe they are worthy of massive salaries while half the world is dying of starvation. Isn’t it time they simply said: “No! I am a multi-millionaire, I don’t need more money!”? The Beeb could put a stop to it by refusing to take part in this scandal. There are loads of people who could do the job of these celebrities for a fraction of what they are paid.

The Government is not wrong to put a cap on pay rises. The people earning them are not struggling to survive. They are wondering if they can keep up their standard of living. When will anyone stand up and say: “I am earning enough. I am not going to bankrupt my employer by demanding a higher salary”?

We are being hit by cut-backs to public services that make life less pleasant for everyone, while councils’ biggest outlay is on salaries.

When there are none of our people sleeping on the streets, none of our sick going without treatment, no families living in substandard housing, when our national debt is cut, when we sell more than we buy – then we can start sharing in our nation’s wealth. In the meantime, let’s pull together and accept less, take no more than we can use and earn more of everyone’s respect.

J Allinson via email

How do extra wages save cash?

I read Coun McLoughlin’s letter last week with some interest (WP Letters, July 20). His letter attacks me for having the audacity to question the Labour Council over creating three new paid positions for three lead Labour Members.

I make no apology for speaking out and voting against these proposals.

I have no objection to the leader creating positions to keep his restless backbench councillors happy but they don’t have to receive an allowance. As a member of the Audit Committee, Coun McLoughlin should know that the council has just created a vice-chairman for this committee and this post isn’t paid.

He also took exception to my assertion that this would not help the council to reduce the deficit as he says the council doesn’t have a deficit. The council has to save £42m over the next few years.

I will pose my question in a slightly different way for Coun McLoughlin. How does adding £24,000 to the wage bill every year help the council save the £42m? I know the

Labour Party have trouble with figures but, really, this should be quite simple.

Coun Michael Winstanley

Leader of the Conservative Group

Wigan Council

Victims of crime have rights

Recent crime statistics revealed that there were 4,965,270 crimes recorded by the police in England and Wales last year.

This seems an appropriate time to remind people of their rights under the Victims’ Code.

All victims of crime have the right to a needs assessment to make sure they get the support they need.

This could include an interpreter or an intermediary, for example.

They also have the right to be kept informed about the police investigation, including if a suspect is arrested and the time, date, location and outcome of any court hearings.

Our casework shows that vulnerable victims are not always provided with the support they need or have a right to.

If people are not satisfied with the way a complaint about the Victims’ Code has been dealt with, then they have a right to bring that complaint to us.

Rob Behrens

Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman