Letters to the Editor

Sir, UK medical research charities are critical to our world-leading reputation for science. Last year they invested £1.9 billion, funding “blue sky” discovery science; investing in high-risk early stage research where few other investors will; and supporting clinical trials.

Research spending falls by 41 per cent

Sir, UK medical research charities are critical to our world-leading reputation for science. Last year they invested £1.9 billion, funding “blue sky” discovery science; investing in high-risk early stage research where few other investors will; and supporting clinical trials.

view that responsibility for the rise in Covid-19 infections is largely a result of the public’s failure to adhere to government guidance. While some sections of the community have been negligent in this regard the vast majority of the public have done what was demanded of them. To suggest otherwise is a calumny of monstrous proportions. If there have been breaches of the guidance the government’s lack of clarity and coherence have not helped.

Covid-19 has had a devastating impact on charities’ ability to raise funds. As a result they are planning an average 41 per cent decrease in research spending this financial year, meaning significantly less funding for research that saves lives. It also threatens the careers of thousands of young scientists dependent on charity funding and risks damaging worldclass infrastructure that has taken decades to build.

Covid-19 has had a devastating impact on charities’ ability to raise funds. As a result they are planning an average 41 per cent decrease in research spending this financial year, meaning significantly less funding for research that saves lives. It also threatens the careers of thousands of young scientists dependent on charity funding and risks damaging worldclass infrastructure that has taken decades to build.

Despite the vital contributions made to our health and economy, medical research charities have not been eligible for government funding.

It is arguable that we might not be in this situation had the government’s implementation of testing and tracing been swifter and more efficiently coordinated at the start of the pandemic. It beggars belief that the PM should state in the Commons that testing and tracing has very little or nothing to do with the spread or transmission of the disease. Why bother then to boast that we have a “world-beating” testing system (sadly, soon to be rationed) or to embark on his “moonshot” programme? A significant factor in the rise in infections might well be due to increasing numbers of school pupils and university students resuming their studies, for which the government’s testing programme was

Early on Michael Gove excused lack of testing by claiming a lack of test reagents; Matt Hancock blamed the shortage of PPE equipment on its inappropriate use by health workers. He later said that testing failures were due to an increased public demand for tests, all the while hailing the testing programme as an important contribution to eradication of the virus. The government’s failure to acknowledge its shortcomings during the pandemic is the only thing that has been “world-beating”.

Frank Benfield Melbourn, Cambs

If the government is to fulfil its manifesto commitment to “make the UK the leading global hub for life sciences” then it must work with charities to ensure that this contribution is not lost.

Independence vote

Lord Aberdare; Lord Alderdice; the Right Rev James Newcome, Bishop of Carlisle; Baroness Blackstone; Baroness Cumberlege; Lord Darzi of Denham; Baroness Deech; Lord Dubs; Baroness Finlay of Llandaff; Baroness Greengross; Lord Hunt of Kings Heath; Baroness Jolly; Lord Krebs; Baroness Masham of Ilton; Baroness Meacher; Lord Monks; Baroness Morgan of Drefelin; Lord Patel; Lord Porter of Spalding; Baroness Randerson; Lord Rennard; Lord Sharkey; Lord Triesman; Lord Turnberg; Baroness Walmsley

Savings rates fall

wholly unprepared. The thread running through the government’s handling of the pandemic is that whatever goes wrong is never its fault. Early on Michael Gove excused lack of testing by claiming a lack of test reagents; Matt Hancock blamed the shortage of PPE equipment on its inappropriate use by health workers. He later said that testing failures were due to an increased public demand for tests, all the while hailing the testing programme as an important contribution to eradication of the virus. The government’s failure to acknowledge its shortcomings during the pandemic is the only thing that has been necessary? One local shop has decided to close during school break and lunch times.

Virginia Braid Glasgow

Trust’s colonial sins

Sir, It is entirely right that shameful pasts should be exposed and understood, as the National Trust has just done with properties in its care (“Trust flags colonial sins of its stately homes”, News, Sep 22). But this should not lead to closures, boycotts throng the atsnacksbreakor necessary? decided and lunch

Sir, Surely forcing pubs and restaurants to close at 10pm will only compress the number of people visiting these places into a shorter time frame, resulting in more crowding and less social distancing than before.

Robin Pearson Harpenden, Herts

Sir, Sir Patrick Vallance, the chief scientific adviser, claimed on Monday that he thought the epidemic was doubling roughly every seven days. The figures from the government’s own website suggest that positive tests are doubling closer to every 14 days. Either this is further evidence of a shambolic testing system or maybe we are not just following the data.

Anthony Cohn Consultant paediatrician, London NW4

Despite the vital contributions made to our health and economy, medical research charities have not been eligible for government funding. If the government is to fulfil its manifesto commitment to “make the UK the leading global hub for life sciences” then it must work with charities to ensure that this contribution is not lost.

Sir, The news that National Savings and Investments is cutting interest rates from November is both disappointing and unimaginative (“Big squeeze hits 25m savers and Premium Bonds holders”, Sep 22). It was encouraging for savers and the state when the Treasury initially kept the rates in place earlier in the year. By keeping those rates reasonable the Treasury was both supporting ordinary savers and ensuring a flow of investment to the government. It was a form of national support given by 25 million savers. To end this at a time of fiscal crisis is shortsighted. I hope NS&I is encouraged to think again.

Mike Gibbons Cartmel, Cumbria

Sir, Boris Johnson appears to hold the view that responsibility for the rise in Covid-19 infections is largely a result of the public’s failure to adhere to government guidance. While some sections of the community have been negligent in this regard the vast majority of the public have done what was demanded of them. To suggest otherwise is a calumny of monstrous proportions. If there have been breaches of the guidance the government’s lack of clarity and coherence have not helped. It is arguable that we might not be in this situation had the government’s implementation of testing and tracing been swifter and more efficiently coordinated at the start of the pandemic. It beggars belief that the PM should state in the Commons that testing and tracing has very little or nothing to do with the spread or transmission of the disease. Why bother then to boast that we have a “world-beating” testing system (sadly, soon to be rationed) or to embark on his “moonshot” programme? A significant factor in the rise in infections might well be due to increasing numbers of school pupils and university students resuming their studies, for which the government’s testing programme was

If, by comparison, Jews today challenged the legitimacy of every public figure or historical site on the basis of their association with antisemitism in previous centuries, few would escape unscathed. Yet we do not demand their removal or renaming. Instead, we acknowledge, move on, and concentrate on whether today’s relationships and policies are free of discrimination. It is too easy to edit the past, but ignore the here and now. Present behaviour should be our prime focus.

Frank Benfield Melbourn, Cambs

Sir, With the proposed closure of pubs and restaurants at 10pm may I suggest that customers donate the money they had intended to spend between 2200 and 0200 hours to the proprietor in order to ease the misery of the impact of the latest Covid-19 restrictions on their business.

Michael Akeroyd Leeds

for it as the alternative choice. Professor Ben Thomson Author, Scottish Home Rule: the Answer to Scotland’s Constitutional Question

Virginia Glasgow Sir, Surely restaurants compress visiting time crowding than Robin Harpenden, Sir,andsuggest money

Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain Maidenhead Synagogue

Mandarin on menu

Sir, Sir Patrick Vallance, the chief scientific adviser, claimed on Monday that he thought the epidemic was doubling roughly every seven days. The figures from the government’s own website suggest that positive tests are doubling closer to every 14 days. Either this is further evidence of a shambolic testing system or maybe we are not just following the data.

Sir, May I console Jessica Geheran (“Nursery war is raging over Mandarin and organic menu,” Sep 19), who was shocked to discover that her one-year-old twins were being taught Mandarin during their cookery classes. The best way to teach a foreign language is via a practical activity that entertains the pupils as they absorb visual and verbal clues to the meaning of the words they are learning. This system worked extremely well when I taught teenage boys French during their weekly cookery lessons in a pupil referral unit in Doncaster, especially as they could eat the results of their hard work as a reward.

Anthony Cohn Consultant paediatrician, London NW4

Sir, Trevor Phillips

(“Let all Scots in Britain get independence vote”, Sep 21, and letters, Sep 21) goes to the heart of the problem with the independence versus union debate that is forcing people to choose whether they are Scottish or British and whether sovereignty should reside at Westminster or Holyrood. It has polarised Scottish politics with both sides having roughly equal support. Yet many of us are now comfortable belonging to more than one nationality, whether Scottish and British or others such as Scots Australian or Scots American. After all the prime minister himself until 2016 was both a US and UK citizen. There is, however, an alternative: home rule. In this option sovereignty is split, with domestic matters governed fully in Scotland while control over matters such as defence, foreign affairs and being part of pound sterling reside at a UK level. Home rule is about sharing powers and about decentralising power from Westminster, and those who live in Scotland and who are affected by domestic policy should be able to vote

SNP and Starmer

years he was not able to start paying into a pension after the normal three years, so he bought those “added” years. After he died I received half his pension but when I remarried it stopped. This would have been the same if I had co-habited. I consider that the government stole 30 years of my husband’s pension contributions.

Independence vote

Sir, I agree with Rachel Sylvester (Sep 22) that Sir Keir Starmer’s chance of becoming PM requires support from the SNP. This might force him to accept the concept of an independence referendum. However, Scottish independence would be bad for his future chances of ever again forming a coalition government unless under a system of proportional representation. Hence I foresee Labour’s support for such a referendum being conditional on the introduction of PR.

Lord Aberdare; Lord Alderdice; the Right Rev James Newcome, Bishop of Carlisle; Baroness Blackstone; Baroness Cumberlege; Lord Darzi of Denham; Baroness Deech; Lord Dubs; Baroness Finlay of Llandaff; Baroness Greengross; Lord Hunt of Kings Heath; Baroness Jolly; Lord Krebs; Baroness Masham of Ilton; Baroness Meacher; Lord Monks; Baroness Morgan of Drefelin; Lord Patel; Lord Porter of Spalding; Baroness Randerson; Lord Rennard; Lord Sharkey; Lord Triesman; Lord Turnberg; Baroness Walmsley

Corrections and clarifications

John Porter Beaconsfield, Bucks

Unequal pensions

Dublin Raid Mystery Hotel Guest Killed

from the times september 23, 1920

Savings rates fall

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An official report issued this evening throws some light on a mysterious crime in an hotel in Dublin. Earlier reports stated that a party of men, wearing military uniform, entered the Exchange Hotel in Parliament Street at 3am, and, going up to one of the bedrooms, killed one of the guests. The following account is given by guests and staff: Mr John Lynch, of Kilmallock, a member of Limerick County Council, arrived in Dublin on September 16 and put up at the Exchange Hotel. Shortly after 3 o’clock, when all the guests and the staff had retired, with the exception

Sir, The news that National Savings and Investments is cutting interest rates from November is both disappointing and unimaginative (“Big squeeze hits 25m savers and Premium Bonds holders”, Sep 22). It was encouraging for savers and the state when the Treasury initially kept the rates in place earlier in the year. By keeping those rates reasonable the Treasury was both supporting ordinary savers and ensuring a flow of investment to the government. It was a form of national support given by 25 million savers. To end this at a time of fiscal crisis is shortsighted. I hope

Mike Gibbons

Eileen Nicholls Epsom, Surrey

Annemarie McGuinness Tyn-y-Groes, Conwy

Stone’s throw away

Sir, I read the letter (Sep 21) from Sandra Noakes on her teacher’s pension with interest as I experienced something similar with the NHS. My late first husband was an NHS dentist. Because a dental degree takes six

NS&I is encouraged to think again.

Hydrogen’s merits

Sir, Malcolm Hayes is not comparing like with like (Sep 22). In our postcarbon world the cost of natural gas-derived hydrogen is irrelevant: we must compare the cost of production, storage and transport of hydrogen made using wind and solar with the whole cost of electricity generated from the same source. Electricity is also very expensive to store and to transmit long distances. Hydrogen offers a competitive and versatile store of energy. And it will enable third world states to get rich by selling their sunshine via hydrogen manufacture (as the Middle East did its oil).

Rob Tooze Darlington, Co Durham

of the night porter, William Barrett, the front-door bell rang. Opening the lattice, Barrett saw a group of men. He asked if they wanted rooms, adding that none was available. They replied, “We don’t want rooms. We are military, and demand instant admission.” 12 men entered. They wore military caps and long black Burberry coats. One of the men, who appeared to be an officer, demanded the hotel register, and when it was produced, he pointed to an entry and exclaimed, “Here it is.” The porter was ordered to face the wall, and one man, putting a revolver to his back, told him to stay quiet. The others went upstairs. After five or 10 minutes they came down and left. Having heard no noises while they were above, he went on with his duties in the basement. Twenty minutes later another knock was heard, and two constables of the Dublin Metropolitan Police entered. They told the porter that they had

Sir, Good luck to Robert Crampton when he returns to search for his lost ring (Times Magazine, Sep 19, and letter, Sep 21). I hope he is as lucky as I was when, in a Hollywood nightclub with friends watching a raucous revue of La Cage aux Folles, I realised that my pear-shaped diamond had flown off my ring, no doubt because of overenthusiastic clapping. We all scrabbled around under the tables with a torch, raising peeved eyebrows on stage, but had to give up. Only when my friend took a gulp of wine, then spat something out, did we find it. Even the cast joined in the applause.

SNP and Starmer

Sir, Trevor Phillips (“Let all Scots in Britain get independence vote”, Sep 21, and letters, Sep 21) goes to the heart of the problem with the independence versus union debate that is forcing people to choose whether they are Scottish or British and whether sovereignty should reside at Westminster or Holyrood. It has polarised Scottish politics with both sides having roughly equal support. Yet many of us are now comfortable belonging to more than one nationality, whether Scottish and British or others such as Scots Australian or Scots American. After all the prime minister himself until 2016 was both a US and UK citizen. There is, however, an alternative: home rule. In this option sovereignty is split, with domestic matters governed fully in Scotland while control over matters such as defence, foreign affairs and being part of pound sterling reside at a UK level. Home rule is about sharing powers and about decentralising power from Westminster, and those who live in Scotland and who are affected by domestic policy should be able to vote

Lesley ThompsonLavenham, Suffolk

come to take charge of the body of the man who had been shot. Barrett was amazed and asked, “What man? How do you know a man has been shot?” The reply was, “The military told us.” He accompanied the police to Mr Lynch’s bedroom, but was not allowed to enter it. From the door, however, he saw a body on the bed. This official statement was issued by the military authorities: In the early hours a military party, guided by members of the RIC, went to the Exchange Hotel for the purpose of arresting a man named Jack Lynch. When the officers entered his room Lynch fired at them with a revolver. The fire was returned by a number of the party, and Lynch was shot through the head. A six-chambered revolver with five chambers loaded and one discharged was found beside the left hand of the dead man.

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Essential studying

Sir, I agree with Rachel Sylvester (Sep 22) that Sir Keir Starmer’s chance of becoming PM requires support from the SNP. This might force him to accept the concept of an independence referendum. However, Scottish independence would be bad for his future chances of ever again forming coalition government unless under system of proportional representation. Hence I foresee Labour’s support such a referendum being conditional on the introduction of PR.

Sir, Like many Times readers (letters, Sep 19 & 21) we had an emotional moment dropping off our daughter at King’s College London on Sunday. Within a couple of hours apps for Youngs pubs and Slug & Lettuce pubs popped up on my iPhone, which is still synced with hers as she uses my account, so I knew she was getting her priorities right and settling in well. That’s my girl...

Dublin Raid

John Porter Beaconsfield,

Rob Naylor Cheltenham

Glut remover

Bucks

Sir, I sympathise with Andrew Fritchie (letter, Sep 22) concerning a surplus of tasty fruit lying rotting on the ground. The solution is simple: he should get a pig. Mutual serendipity!

Unequal pensions

Jeremy Lewis Hailey, Oxon

Sir, I read the letter (Sep 21) Sandra Noakes on her teacher’s pension with interest as I experienced something similar with the late first husband was an NHS Because a dental degree takes

Mystery Hotel Guest Killed

for it as the alternative choice. Professor Ben Thomson Author, Scottish Home Rule: the Answer to Scotland’s Constitutional Question from of the night porter, William the front-door bell rang. the lattice, Barrett saw men. He asked if they wanted adding that none was available. replied, “We don’t want are military, and demand admission.” 12 men entered. wore military caps and Burberry coats. One appeared to be an officer, the hotel register, and produced, he pointed and exclaimed, “Here ordered