I am writing in response to The Issue (November 11) on the topic ‘Should long-term job seekers be forced to do community work or lose their benefits?’ Councillor Steve Hayward made some interesting points and mentioned his own voluntary council work.

I noticed from the latest council figures that he received over £18,500 in allowances and over £500 in travelling expenses in the year 2009-10 for this voluntary council work.

I wonder if job seekers will receive a similar level of remuneration for their voluntary work or if David Cameron and Nick Clegg considered these allowances in their ‘fair and progressive’ spending cuts?

Maybe savings from cuts in these allowances could then be used to create or protect jobs in essential public services or retraining for the long term unemployed?

Ian Fowler, Burwell Meadow, Witney