IN response to Mr Stephens' letter about the "special" treatment given to MG Rover workers, I would like to make the following points.

1) Anyone made redundant can apply to have rent and council tax deferred

2) They are only deferred and do have to be paid back

3) The sheer amount of people who lost their jobs in a small geographical area is the real tragedy

4) My brother-in-law worked for Rover for 20 years and received a paltry £5,000 redundancy, which does not go far with a mortgage and bills, he has been applying for jobs constantly and is not enjoying being unemployed.

So perhaps Mr Stephens, in his "comfort zone", should have a little compassion for people when they are in need.

If more people had bought British cars rather than BMW or Audi, etc. then this situation may not have happened.

Nicola Burton

Aston Fields

Bromsgrove

Further to Chris Stephens letter, I am fed up of the constant criticising of MG Rover employees.

My husband worked there for 20 years and gave his all to the company. He wasn't overpaid he earned his wages doing a physical manual job. He has every right to be concerned about his pension, he paid into the upper tier of the pernsion for a number of years to get a better standard of living when he retired and now that is in jeopardy.

All he's asking for is a fair day's pay for a fair day's work. He gets no preferential treatment from the Job Centre, no help with council tax or anything else (this is probably only the minority and, having paid into a system for 20-40 years, don't you think they are entitled?), as I work full time he is penalised because I have worked since leaving school.

When you see asylum seekers being given cheques for £2,500 for transport to look for work, you can understand them feeling bitter when my husband has £56.20 a week which he has to use for phone calls, transport etc. It doesn't go very far, it doesn't even contribute to the household bills.

I don't suppose that you, Chris, would be living in your posh house in the Oakalls if all you were taking home £4.85 to £5 an hour!

Tracey Turner

Lyall Gardens

Rubery