THE TV licence is to rise to approximately £180 over a period of time. In 2004 the BBC spent £12.5million on taxis for its staff here and abroad.

This year we have seen gas and electricity prices rise sharply, this has also had a knock-on effect on the price of food. Will we next see a high rise in council tax and water rates?

With the exception of TV (which has rubbish programmes anyway), these commodities are essential to life, yet the fat cats running these companies don't care one iota whether people can pay or not. It is just pure greed.

H HAMER, Lowther Place, Blackburn.