SIR – The scandal of the trial which had to be postponed because no interpreter came from the private contractor has cost the public purse heavily. Police, barristers, the Recorder and staff now have to reassemble.

The alleged victim, other witnesses and the jury probably took time from work. Will our local Tory MPs find out the details of this contract and the extra costs? Will they make certain that the contractor pays the cost of this shambles? I doubt it.

Civil servants said these failings occurred in 19 per cent of cases. Failure at one trial in five is a disgrace.

This damage to public services is an example where we can see that staffing is inadequate. Another was the queues at airports, because of cuts in staffing levels. But shortage of staff in other services are unseen, for example in social care for the disabled and elderly – only the needy and their carers are fully aware of this, but Age UK says this is a crisis.

Neglecting those in their 80s and 90s is especially shocking when we recall what this great generation did for this country in the Second World War and afterwards. How are we so heartless as to ignore them now? The Government promised to implement the Dilnot Report, but have broken this promise as well, because no extra resources will be found.

Bob Holland, Skipton Road, Cononley