Maurice Vassie is determined to find some justification for super salaries in the public sector (Letters, November 25).

He now maintains they are so high because of “the performance and complex results that those senior executives are required to deliver” which he claims is somehow greater than the demands of the private sector. This is a nonsense born of prejudice against private business. It is almost impossible to be dismissed from a public sector job for failing to perform.

Here in York, both the local authority and health authority have got themselves into financial difficulties and face considerable dissatisfaction, not only from end users of their services, but also from the rank and file of their own employees. They do not need more pay. They need replacing.

Matthew Laverack, Lord Mayor’s Walk, York.