WHENEVER I hear that some state-run (past or present) organisation is 'the envy of the world' I am reminded of the very old joke: Give me the name of your tailor. Why? So that I can avoid him.

From what I can see such enterprises are run for the benefit of their management and staff rather than their customers.

To be fair a lot of private companies seem to exist to amass fortunes for their senior managers.

I recall how my boyhood military friends relished the tales of how senior German officers pulled rank to escape Stalingrad only to be met at the other end by a court martial and firing squad.

A V Martin,

Westfield Close,

Wigginton, York