More cross words about the budget

The Old Curiosity Shop, possibly the model for Dickens’s novel, in about 1890. The less said the better about Dick Swiveller’s ‘several fantastic exercises’, says Nigel Rayment. Photograph: Niday Picture Library/Alamy

Perhaps the compiler of Friday’s Quick Crossword (10 July) could tell us if the clues were further comment on the latest budget: 12a Ruthless pursuit of one’s own interests, 19a Inflict great suffering, 5d Squeezed hard, 1a Laugh unpleasantly and finally 20d Make merry?
Lawrence Suss
Brighton

• The less said about “the several fantastic exercises” Dick Swiveller is caught performing in The Old Curiosity Shop, the better (Letters, 6 July).
Nigel Rayment
Hereford

• Having been to an excellent gig by Camel on Tuesday night, I can assure you prog never went away (Letters, 8 July).
Steven Edgar
Bristol