WHILE not wishing to deny anyone a deserved pay rise, to expand NL Kellet's (HAS Oct 30) point about wages, there are some interesting facts that are easily found.

Across a time period where the local authority demanded nearly £1,000 more in council tax, which amounted to a pay cut for many, wages in local authorities for those already well remunerated expanded at an enormous rate.

In 1997, across the Nort- East and North Yorkshire, there were around 100 staff in local authorities earning more than £50,000.

By the time 2010 arrived this figure was around 1,700, the cost in 1997 being £6.5m rising dramatically in 2010 to £117.5m.

While the Coalition has rightly put a brake on Council Tax increases, it shouldn't be lost on the public that some council services previously free now have a cost and other with a minimal cost have increased, perhaps a better approach, although somewhat belated by two decades.

Were the vociferous union leaders to present a more reasonable stance on pay, accepting and taking account of facts like those above, explaining to the public the cost of automatic incremental pay and focusing more on those doing the more lowe- paid manual and expanding caring roles, then they might win broader support.

Jim Tague, Bishop Auckland.