I write in response to your correspondent Charlie Pollock, who accuses me of "maligning" the Hillman Imp (Letters, April 12).

I thought by describing the superb design and technical innovations of the car I had done exactly the opposite.

Mr Pollock is correct, however, in referring to the considerable antipathy towards the car being marketed in the car manufacturing areas of England.

A friend of mine who worked at Ford Dagenham in London at the time had to face regular jibes about "jock cars threatening jobs".

Scotland then was totally defenceless and any axe due to fall was always going to fall here first.

If we had a parliament with full economic and political powers then Linwood would be developing and flourishing today.

Alan Clayton,

Westfield,

Letters Way,

Strachur,

Argyll.