Recycling

After the Second World War, salvage of every sort was an essential part of the economy.

Long after the war, I recall lorries piled high with bales of rags and paper. Even food was recycled, in street corner “pig swill” bins.

So you may understand the shock I felt at the revelation of a Cabinet Office Minister leaving Downing Street with Government papers he then deposited into a park rubbish receptacle with the toffee papers and ice-cream wrappers. His pristine papers were not being re-cycled, they were contaminated – a resource wasted.

Naturally, there are concerns as to how well he had studied these papers, how much, or rather how little, respect he was showing for the letter writers and, as ever, the important matter of security and confidentiality.

Trying to avoid identity theft, even though none of my papers are classified, I bought a shredder.

I continue with diligent recycling, but what a calamity if anyone corresponding with Oliver Letwin is put at risk by his cavalier attitude.

Are there no cloth caps and whippets at the Palace of Westminster?

Gerard Wild, Richmond.