ON the day the Conservative Government presented their Budget, the Lancashire Evening Telegraph ran two stories pointing out the reality of life for many in Tory Britain.

Firstly the budget: 1p from income tax, higher prescription charges, cuts to housing benefit and slashing of the housing budget. The effects of these will be higher council tax bills, housing repairs under even greater pressure on those living in poverty.

Where is the social justice? Where is the help, particularly to the elderly who will suffer and die this winter through the imposition of VAT on fuel?

The Evening Telegraph (November 26) tells us of the study on child labour in the area, and, like your Editorial, we should all be shocked by the findings. Add to this the recent report by the Children's Society on the exploitation of young people for prostitution, from the age of 12 for goodness sake.

Again, where is the social justice?

You further report the conference on regulation of the privatised utilities and the scandal in 1996 of vulnerable families being placed without water and with the obvious health risks.

Again, where is the social justice?

To this government it goes to Sir Demond Pitcher - the 'fat cat' boss of North West Water. A cool £435 a week better off after the Tories budget. I hope he can manage.

COUN MICHAEL BARRETT, Vice chair, North West and North Wales Anti Poverty Forum, Brandy House Brow, Blackburn.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.