Is York MP Hugh Bayley "away with the fairies" (How can we make it easier to find work?, The Press, May 22)?

I certainly think so, for his analysis that York's economy has recovered well from the job losses at Norwich Union, Nestlé, Terry's and British Sugar, a very premature statement to say the least.

Mr Bayley says wages have risen by 25 per cent, so there are good quality jobs coming to York.

Maybe could he list them for everyone's benefit. I'm sure there are lots of nurses, teachers, bus drivers, people working in call centres, shop assistants, careworkers, pub staff, hotel staff, and council workers who would love to know where these jobs are.

Try buying a house and bringing up a family, Mr Bayley, on £350 per week or less.

Mr Bayley has obviously not even thought about the continuation of trade skills which this country desperately needs.

The likes of Nestlé, Terry's, British Sugar, British Rail Engineering (Carriageworks) and numerous small companies trained school leavers in all disciplines of engineering, which they could use anywhere in the world.

Now we have Bulgarians and Romanians arriving here. Has no one told them that all the decent paying work around here is heading over to eastern Europe?

The young people in York and the country as a whole need apprenticeships in the core skills. I remember when the carriageworks closed, the local shops around Holgate were never the same, with some going to the wall.

We have not even touched on the impact that the above closures will have on not just local businesses, but also suppliers from further afield. Go tell it to the fairies, Mr Bayley.

Bob Waite, Windmill Rise, Holgate, York.


* THERE seems to be something of a crisis in both the job centre and the job market (How can we make it easier to find work?, The Press, May 22).

Coverage by The Press on the subject has been excellent, very informative.

Job losses at places like Terry's and British Sugar certainly have not helped. Neither has the large influx of Europeans to York, over recent months. These people have filled many manual vacancies, that would otherwise have gone to locals.

Countries outside Britain and the European Union have very strict laws governing immigration and employment. Tourists are generally welcome, but under no circumstances are they allowed to engage in unskilled employment during their stay in the country. Penalties can be harsh, and may involve a prison sentence and deportation.

British jobs for British people should be the order of the day. Spiralling housing and accommodation costs, plus the prospect of many more immigrants, can only worsen the current situation.

J H Roy, Hadrian Avenue, York.