It doesn't add up

I feel Dr Timothy Johnson may be slightly biased in his expounding the lack of mathematicians as a cause for the credit crisis (Opinion, 3 April). Could it not be that their presence was also a major contribution to the problem?

Was it not these same people who created the wondrous system of glorified betting and the wrapping of up of toxic packages that caused the system to collapse?

Mathematicians alone did not create the system, but they must take some of the responsibility. Would an ordinary banker have the brains to set up such ludicrous and unfathomable ways of doing business?

IAN ROSS

Eden Lane

Edinburgh