I DON’T know what percentage of the 60,000 new cars ordered so far under the Government’s scrappage scheme were manufactured in the UK. I would guess quite a small one.

We could equally ask who would have repaired and maintained the 60,000 old cars to be scrapped in exchange, had they instead been kept on the road. The answer is small businesses employing skilled mechanics up and down the country.

Perhaps the Government is content for us to be a nation of car salesmen and credit brokers.

John Riseley, Harrogate, North Yorkshire.