LETTER:Whitehall ideal of public service under attack

Sir: Dame Gillian Brown (Letters, 2 March) states that "the Government has advanced no specific criticism of the Recruitment and Advisory Service so why dismantle it?"

She misses the whole point of the approach to government by the present administration. It goes something like this: "If it ain't broke (eg British Telecom) fix it; if it's broke (eg British Rail) don't fix it; and if you're not sure whether it's broke or not (eg the NHS) pull the rug on it".

For the Government this may seem like good governance but if you're one of the governed you need a wonderful sense of humour.

Dr Bernard Coleman

Peterborough