IN his response regarding Geilston House and Garden at Cardross and the general malaise within the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) Keith Halstead, Head of Special Projects, concentrates on the financial losses allegedly occurring at Geilston (Letters, July 21). So as to allow NTS members to properly assess the situation it would be helpful if we had a detailed breakdown of the figures involved. Of great interest will be the expenditure actually incurred at Geilston and what is charged for general administration by NTS headquarters in Edinburgh.

Also, when he mentions the large capital costs involved in turning Geilston House into various income-generating streams he forgets that the present condition of the house is largely due to many years of careless neglect by the NTS itself. The costs of such neglect should be borne by NTS central funds and not attributed to Geilston itself.

David B. Price,

5 Cedarwood Court, Cardross, Dunbartonshire.