EARLIER this year, Bolton Council's Housing Department was criticised for a promotional campaign designed to highlight housing services.

In September we learned from the BEN that complaints against this department had risen by over 70pc in one year alone, a damaging statistic which was hailed "a good thing" by the housing chair and his director of housing; and in October the BEN informed us that the department had managed a build-up of rent arrears in excess of £1.5m.

Each one of these incidents would make Bolton Housing a certain winner of an "In the Doghouse"award. Instead, they retained the "Investor in People" status.

In July, a friend with lung problems was referred to see a consultant. In August, the Royal Bolton Hospital confirmed an appointment for April 1999 which has now been changed to May, "due to unforeseen circumstances". It is likely that some people on such waiting lists will not live to see a consultant, due to -- yes, we know it has to do with money -- inexcusably long delays. The NHS Trust too displays the "Investor in People" logo.

It seems that, these days, authorities are being showered with awards, not only for excellence, but increasingly for the lack of it, in which cases big sounding slogans and logos are not meant to reflect reality, but to serve as cheap substitutes.

B Stuart

Lord's Stile Lane, Bromley Cross

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.