I AM absolutely appalled at the Government's continuing failure to compensate the victims of the Equitable Life scandal, which has now resulted in the action group launching a high court challenge for an early hearing; let's not forget that 15 victims of the scandal are dying each day without seeing justice done.

Despite the Ombudsman's ruling that there had been "serial regulatory failure" and Treasury Minister Yvette Cooper apologising for the "maladministration" that resulted in the insurers' near collapse the Government is still refusing to implement the recommendations of the Ombudsman.

Although the Government has put forward its own proposals on how compensation should be paid, it is likely to result in potentially 90 per cent of victims losing out and, as always with this Government, will take a long time to implement. This is wholly unacceptable and I urge our local MPs to support the action group in seeking an early and satisfactory resolution.

Craig Whittaker,

Conservative Parliamentary Candidate

Calder Valley.