Transport Scotland “defending” the increase in fares to the northern isles is as laughable as it is serious. Publicly funded organisations whether the government, the local council , or the myriad of arm’s length bodies and quangos should never be in the business of defending price increases. Any increase of prices to the public from a public body should only ever be as a last resort, after much handwringing, and accompanied by a grovelling apology for it coming to this. Anything less is an affront to the intelligence of the tax paying public who fund their very existence. Liam AdamsonCunningsburgh