MANY would agree with Paul H Griffiths of Worcester, Liberal Democrats (You Say, November 1) that it is in the best interests of the Rail Service that Railtrack is returned from the for-profit sector.

Would he also agree that it would be in the general interest that our health services were reclaimed from the for-profit sector before too much more damage is done?

He probably would agree that even with the best will, the private sector's primary obligation is to the shareholders and its natural dynamic to cut costs.

Under Private Finance Initiative arrangements in the health service, this has so far been achieved by a reduction in beds, nursing and ancillary staff and by changes to their pay and working conditions among other things.

He probably would agree that hospitals built so far by Private Finance Initiatives have all experienced such reductions, and that it is a myth, despite what is written into voluminous contracts, that risk is in practice transferred from the public to the private sector.

As we have seen with Railtrack, if for-profit management does not, or will not deliver the service as required, the public sector has to bail it out in order to maintain the service.

WENDY HANDS.

Upton-upon-Severn,

Worcestershire.