GIVEN the appalling health and safety record of our privatised railways, I was staggered to learn that the Strategic Rail Authority is to compensate operating companies for losses as a result of the RMT union's health and safety strike.

What crazy logic allows taxpayers' money to be used to subsidise the profits of private companies and their millionaire backers to not run a service?

ROGER BANNISTER,

Unison NEC, (personal capacity).