Sir – Your leaders (April 9) are complementary. The second leader ‘Right Reward’ highlights the cost of providing high quality leadership for public services. Your first leader ‘LSC shambles’ highlights the much higher cost of failure.

Whilst paying for top quality leadership can contribute to success, success is not guaranteed. I’m sure that the heads of the LSC were well paid. Were they well chosen? Were they well supported? Good public services need competent political support.

Your editorial refers to communication between the LSC and the Government.

The Government has claimed to be keen to support skills training and indeed the construction industry.Did Ministers make it clear that they only want to hear ‘good news’ and thus encouraged civil servants to sweep problems under the carpet? If so they have helped to do great damage to both skills training and the construction industry.

As electors we have a responsibility to choose politicians who give the senior staff the direction, context and support they need.

Vernon Porter,Oxford