Regarding your editorial on why the numbers of young people studying sciences and technology is declining (Comment, 21 August) the reason may be very simple.
Like me, many of their parents will be in their 40s and 50s, and many will have been made redundant due to the continual downsizing of the UK engineering industry and the move of many manufacturing jobs abroad.
Is this any recommendation to enter the industry? I think not. Fortunately I have enjoyed continual employment, although the last few years have also been spent looking over my shoulder to see if the axe is coming. This is not good for morale.
I think the CBI have pretty much got it right.
Bob Elliott, Stafford
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