SIR – Why is it, that whenever the country faces a financial crisis, the finger of blame is directed towards the public sector?

It’s as though the entire public service is ultimately responsible for the mess that we find ourselves in.

The Government conveniently forgets the legacy of debt created by the private sector banking industry and is simply exploiting an opportunity to pursue its attack on public services.

We see Eric Pickles (hardly an image of lean, mean efficiency) systematically dismantling services while peddling the myth that drastic cuts will improve service delivery.

Just look at the mess of our transport network and the sheer greed of the domestic fuel providers, all in private hands.

In the new year, we will see Royal Mail transfer into private ownership, which will no doubt result in increased charges and no tangible service improvement.

Yes, there are savings that can be made across the public sector, as there are in all large industries, but these have to be achieved in a way that does not compromise the quality of vital everyday services that we, the public, expect.

Jerry Gumeniuk, Rosse Field Park, Bradford