THE Gazette says in your editorial on October 26 that the gravest injustice of the BSE scandal was the failure of ministers under the last Government to order a public inquiry.

For years the plight of the victims of variant CJD and their families was ignored by many in the corridors of power. Only now after the publication of Lord Phillips' report can they look forward to compensation.

Conservatives, including John Major, have apologised for their Government's involvement in the catalogue of errors identified by Lord Phillips. His report indicates it as one of the biggest public policy failures since the Second World War.

There have been Tory apologies, too, for the rail privatisation fiasco which has resulted in the current sorry state of the rail network.

The Railtrack boss Gerald Corbett no less has said the industry was "ripped apart" by privatisation.

The structure set up by the Tory Government was, he said: "Not designed to optimise safety or investment.

These apologies are welcome, if belated. They serve as another reminder of those 18 years of Tory Government. BSE and rail privatisation will forever be associated with the Conservatives in office.

Hugh Pym

North Wiltshire Liberal Democrats, Chippenham