Who foots the bill for public-sector pay rises

SIR – Trade unions demanding a pay rise (Letters, September 15) have so far been unable to explain where the money will come from.

Let me help them. It will come from me. I depend on income from my savings and a small state pension. My savings have been taxed previously as income and are taxed again as income from payments from the investments. Having built up a bank deposit account, I see that the interest has effectively been cut by 75 per cent, besides being taxed again on distribution.

My wife and I were careful and frugal. I would therefore ask of the trade union leaders: which section of the public has experienced a real decrease in income? CK Baker

Neston, Cheshire

SIR – Police chiefs claim they would be forced to cut the number of officers on the beat if a 2 per cent pay rise is granted to their staff.

How can there be fewer men or women on the beat when, in most towns and cities, they already appear to be absent? Mervyn Vallance

Maldon, Essex