LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

The floating pound

Sir: Now that the dust is beginning to settle on the issue it appears possible that the pound will be allowed to float forever. That your journal has came out in support of permanent floating is no guarantee of the would-be soundness of this move. Permanent floating of the pound takes politicians out of the international money market arena and this relieves them of overseas bankers' pressures. That this country would then be in for a prolonged period of inflationary policies precipitated by vote-catching politicians feeding on a lax people, would be a certainty — and one to be abhored by all Englishmen.

Only if the politicians were to give up their interventionist policies at home would their abdication of responsibility vis-à-vis the exchange rate of sterling be safe. Since this is a political impossibility all hope of "floating forever" must be placed aside.

Really what with your dictator for London, your journal is becoming quite New Statesmanlike in its irresponsibility! Roger Karn Manston, Heathfield Close, Woking, Surrey.

Sir: The simplest way to dispose of a problem is to pretend that it is all due to one cause which, once removed, will make it disappear. This is essentially what your plea for "letting the pound stay free " (July 1) amounts to.

Of course, if you assume that all our troubles now and before stem from our 'artificial' system of fixed exchange rates, and that "a payments deficit or surplus, has nothing necessarilly to do with the domestic economic policies being pursued," it follows that a system of freely floating rates will not only avoid a recurrence of external shocks (to which some countries appear to be more prone than others), but also permit governments to pursue whatever domestic policies they think fit.

Yet are fixed exchange rates more ' artificial ' than, say, a fixed but variable Bank rate, and are they not perfectly compatible, as at present, with free fluctuations of forward rates? Should we encourage a decline in national competitiveness to be reflected in a steadily sinking exchange rate, rather than take steps to counteract it at home? If a permanently floating pound "makes wise domestic, monetary economic and demand management policies possible," it also makes them all the more necessary.

In fact, looking beyond its manifestations, our problem (and that of other countries faced with similar difficulties) is not simple but, at least, twofold. Apart from internal inflation — which floating rates do nothing to minimise — exchange rates are nowadays vulnerable to massive capital movements apt, at a moment's notice to magnify a fundamental disequilibrium (lack of confidence) out of all proportions. This poses a real dilemma between internal stability and external freedom.

Yet even here the solution is not necessarily comprehensive floating, nor an elaborate system of exchange controls, but rather some

thing like the French model of two-tier exchange rates which, while allowing rates on capital transactions to fluctuate freely, keeps fluctuations on commercial ones within narrow and internationally agreed limits. Though less than perfect, the British Government could do worse than make this its first objective on the road ahead.

W. Grey 12 Arden Road, Finchley, London N3.

Sir: A free pound, Enoch Powell for Prime Minister, Richard Body's Road to Freedom no Common Market but an English-speaking fraternity with the countries of the Old Commonwealth!

Is this a good recipe for national resurrection?

Isla M. Atherley Hazel Cottage, Church Lane, Cheribury, Oxford.

Mental health

Sir: Through the letter columns of the Spectator I would like to be allowed to voice an opinion on the future of psychiatric hospitals.

believe the future of psychiatric hospitals involves the implementation of governmental proposals which seek to rationalise the present system of care and also the education of the general public to a degree to which they can accept psychiatric disorders as an every day illness, and not one which is to be feared. A campaign to persuade the Government to pour money into research of mental disorders must be mounted and an effectual answer gained. No more can the populace of Great Britain turn a blind eye to the suffering of so many. It is the duty of every man who values his sanity to fight for the cause of those who have lost theirs, and to be tolerant enough to be able to understand an illness which, although having no physical equivalent, is one which may strike him and his family at any time.

The feeling that is often produced amongst the populace is, as with anything that is inexplicable is, "It always happens to the other man." This, by careful education, must be obliterated from the minds of the people and replaced with the knowledge that it can quite possibly happen to them. By a careful programme of education starting at, perhaps, fourteen years, the forming mind of the child will then be immuned from the fear of the unknown which is mental illness. With the realisation, of the problems of mental illness, will come tolerance which is so sadly lacking in today's society.

At present psychiatric hospitals are going through a period of excessive criticism, some of this is justified, but in the future the press, who now revel in the sordid exposure of hospital failings, must focus their attention on the less sensational but totally obnoxious cases of government failure to act, with any coherent policy, regarding the care of the mentally ill. Sir Keith Joseph may voice opinions; and may appear to be making wanted progress in the replacement of ineffective hospital management committees, but plans for the rationalisation of hospitals must not, as he proposes, span fifteen years. The need is urgent and cannot wait for the bureaucrats to decide what is best for the patients in psychiatric hospitals but action must be implemented at the earliest possible date, so ensuring that the policy is not deffered by a change of government.

This, in effect, will put pressure on staff and patient as numbers increase and accommodation stays the same, so turning the clock back one hundred years. The vehicle for public opinion is the press so, by using this medium to its full potential, the Government will be forced, by the people, to rectify their policies and look, with a more sympathetic eye, upon those who are suffering from mental disorders.

To sum up: The areas in which there are marked deficiencies in the mental health service are, the lack of government money given to research into mental disorders, non-effective rationalisation programmes in hospitals, lack of care, in some cases, in dealing with institutionalisation of patients and staff and the lack of understanding so bringing about a state of apathy, amongst the general public. Understanding through education, pressure brought to bear on the Government to spend more on research and to bring into being a coherent policy with regard to the mental health service, to be able to project the numbers that will be in need of psychiatric care because of added strain in society, and by an assimilation of these factors, also taking into account the numbers and types of illnesses which are at present being treated. By carrying out, to their maximum, these proposals I believe we will arrive at a situation — where the mental health service will become a viable and efficient service rather than one which struggles against mounting odds of ever-increasing numbers of patients and diminishing staff. These two factors, coupled with public and governmental apathy, must be obliterated, in no uncertain terms, and replaced by a criteria of 'monetary aid and public education which will ease the problems now being forcibly tolerated by patients and staff of psychiatric hospitals throughout the country. R. Hunter 11A Goldstone Road, Hove, Sussex

A life subscription?

Sir: For the past twenty-five years I have been a more or less continuous reader of The Spectator. Through its various shifts of ownership and policy my allegiance has at times wavered but, since the restoration of the competition and the innovation of Jac's crossword, it has remained steady. Now, after reading last week's Notebook, I am almost prepared to commit myself to a life subscription — if you have such a thing.

Your observations on the Hyde Park Corner demolitions are fully justified and, as you say, there is a double vandalism here. The Avon Gorge project was bad enough but, had it been allowed, the gorge

itself would still have remained to us and the disfiguring hotel could have been knocked down eventually. On the other hand, what was so shamelessly demolished in Piccadilly has gone for ever. Why is it that these ghastly Hilton-type hotels always seem to require a spoilable site? They belong nowhere (outside the US) and do nothing to enhance a local landscape. They would be just as well sited as a replacement for slum clearance (in, say, Bermondsey) or better still, in already ruined Middlesex close to that pestilential airport which is their raison d'etre. I am, however, inclined to doubt your suggestion that they serve people who have come to enjoy London or, for that matter, anyone of discernment. They are patronised largely, I suspect, by either undemanding air transit passengers

or thrusting, prestige-seeking ' executives ' (dreadful word) bent on impressing customers (clients to them) or living it up in colour supplement terms (jumbo steaks and TV in each bedroom).

What is not clear in this disgraceful business — outside official circles — is how such property comes to be demolished after being covered by a protection order. It would seem that Mr Walker is guilty, either of plain philistine stupidity, or a cynical deference to development interests. Even before the last war, when parliamentary standards were not notably high, such a ministerial confidence trick would have called for immediate resignation.

However, this particular milk is now split and instead of crying we must look for some sure way to prevent a recurrence. Battles can be won against vandals, whether they are developers or town councils, as we have already seen at the Avon Gorge, Bath's Rainbow Wood and elsewhere. It was encouraging to find that the Hyde Park Corner outrage was jointly and urgently opposed by three highly respected amenity societies and there has since been gratifying evidence in theatrical circles of concern for the safety of Piccadilly's other end. What is called for now is surely a strong moral leadership, capable of co-ordinating all authoritative dissent, as well as organising public opinion to a point where even this devious Ministry of Environment is forced to take notice.

Many people will have looked for such a lead to the National Trust, as our oldest and largest preservationist body and it was a disappointment to find it (apparently) conspicuous by its absence from the distinguished consortium I have already mentioned. Unhappily, though, since the implementation of the Benson Report, the Trust's vision seems to be restricted and its energies channelled in another direction. In a misguided attempt to achieve financial stability and to present a more ` popular ' image, it has recently resorted to commercial exploitation on a wide scale, in apparent contradiction of its own declared aims. This alien and unworthy policy is aimed at a massive increase in membership and attendance, in many cases without proper regard for the character and capacity of its more vulnerable properties. The obvious fallacy of trying to reconcile mass conditions in presentation with true preservation has caused dissension within itself and dismay among its friends outside. We car_i___A