SIR – We are glad to read that Julian Smith MP raised the question of free bus travel in the House of Commons with Local Government Minister Eric Pickles (T&A, December 6), because North Yorkshire County Council has received £5 million less than they need to run their free bus services.

Mr Pickles has been quoted as saying: “It has been the most dreadful experience with the moves from the districts to the counties.” His drives around Essex in his limousine, paid for by taxpayers, must have been miserable.

He created his problem by promising his boss Cameron that he would deliver these disastrous cuts.

Could we advise him how to stop wrecking the economy in this region, increasing unemployment and inflicting severe hardship on vulnerable children, disabled and elderly people?

He will claim his decisions are necessary to reduce the budget deficit. This would be reduced further if jobs could be preserved because those staying in work would pay higher taxes.

If the Government decided to allow council taxes to rise in cases where an authority could demonstrate vital services for the public would otherwise be damaged, this might allow North Yorkshire and other councils to keep thousands of people in work among council staff and private contractors.

Why can’t Mr Pickles trust councils and keep his party’s promise to devolve power?

Bob Holland, Secretary, Skipton & Ripon Labour Party, Skipton Road, Cononley