I HAVE worked closely with Iain Duncan Smith since he established the Centre for Social Justice in 2004. This cross-party think-tank, aimed at fighting social injustice, initially undertook an in-depth study into the social problems affecting Britain in the 21st century, in the document, Breakdown Britain, followed by Break through Britain, which provided a series of solutions and policies which were adopted by all three major parties and universally applauded.

Now the centre reveals its latest research, Dynamic Benefits, Towards Welfare That Works, the most far-reaching review of the welfare system in 60 years, estimating a shake-up that will boost the incomes of the lowest paid by nearly £5bn. This research also sets out to transform the "static" way the welfare system works, by removing barriers that discourage the unemployed from seeking work, described as "financial disincentive to work" – the way in which the newly employed see barely any increase in their income as benefits are cut when they start to work.

Such a system serves to trap people out of work, producing greater injustice and weaker social mobility. Iain Duncan Smith predicts a set-up cost of £2.7bn for this new system. However, it will reform and save the taxpayer £3.4bn after one to two years – a net saving for the taxpayer of £700m per year and ongoing. More importantly, it will transform the current punitive system into a fairer system into work.

Esther McVey, Prospective Conservative MP for Wirral West

Cut spending

MUCH the same way that, when a family hits financial trouble, they have to be ruthless with their spending and decide what they need to buy and what they just cannot afford, this Government is going to have to face facts and cut back on spending.

Despite the claims that we are seeing the green shoots of recovery, unemployment is still soaring and it’s not like there’s some magical slush fund in the bank to dip into.

Times are tough and we need to tighten the purse strings. You can’t go on shopping sprees when you haven’t got a job, and that applies to politicians as much as it does us.

J Kellogg, via email

Be proud to save

I WOULD like to see restaurants take the shame out of taking home a doggy bag.

The message everywhere these days is less waste and recycle, and I've read that some restaurants and firms spend thousands on turning organic waste into energy. Tonnes and tonnes of food go to landfill.

Restaurants should put up signs saying they're only too happy to package – in biodegradable packaging – up leftovers. Or perhaps people could be encouraged to bring their own Tupperware?

If it's good enough for Michelle Obama, who took a doggy bag home from a restaurant in Rome, it's good enough for me!

JM, Crosby

Don’t hurt the poor

DURING a recession, the private sector falters as demand for products and services slows.

Conversely, economic hard times increase the need for public services. Unemployment leads to greater dependence on benefits and Jobcentre services. Poverty puts strain on families (increasing workloads for social services) and leads to greater incidence of physical and mental health problems. This pattern of increased demand is repeated right across the public sector.

Why, then, are politicians fixated with cutting expenditure on vital services? It is depressing that neither of the two main parties is prepared to tackle the budget deficit the sensible way – by taxing those who can best afford to pay, rather than penalising the poor.

Mal Ferguson, Tuebrook

Beatles bounty

THANKS to the BBC2 for The Beatles Bonanza – an exciting, enjoyable and even educational evening’s entertainment (Daily Post, September 5).

I liked the sequences showing their manager, Brian Epstein. Topically timed, too, since Brian – had he lived – would have been 75 this month.

The third portion of the programme-package, covering the Fab Four’s first American visit, in 1964, included edited extracts from their appearances on the Ed Sullivan TV show.

I was struck by the seemingly genuine look of surprise on the face of John Lennon, as Sullivan announced that celebrated composer Richard Rodgers had publicly declared his recognition of Lennon/McCartney as a truly great songwriting partnership.

Derek Jeffery, Heswall

Airport coercion

YOUR correspondent Eleanor Quirke makes a good point.

Airlines and airports seem to have free rein at present to coerce passengers into paying ever more in taxes, fines and surcharges.

The excuse that "everybody is doing it" is not good enough. It's time the regulatory authorities stepped in to curtail their activities.

I travelled to Cornwall some weeks ago via Air Southwest and flew into Newquay airport. First, I had to pay an extra £10 to BMI Baby for not checking in online – five minutes over their deadline.

Then I was informed at check-in, at Newquay airport, that, in order to pass through the departure gate, I had to pay a mandatory £5 towards the airport's expansion plan! Surely this is wrong? If I have to pay an arbitrary charge for absolutely nothing in return, I'd much rather pay into a charity than a grasping corporate plan.

The fact I used an airport doesn't necessarily mean I want to see unchecked airport expansion. I'd much rather put a fiver towards better rail travel.

Larry Morrison, Rainhill