23/12/04

He is using all these fears to attack our democratic rights. What he is, in effect, saying is: "Give me all these sweeping powers and trust me to use them wisely and judiciously".

Of course, it never works out that way and these argued lies echo and scream down the bloodstained corridors of history. We will hear them at the next electoral hustings.

Identity cards are first on the list. Once established, they will be used to harass the vulnerable, particularly ethnic minorities, who will be required to produce them endlessly to prove their legality.

The Government has already floated a plan whereby those accused of 'terrorist' offences will be tried in a secret kangaroo court and convicted on a 'balance of probabilities' standard before biased judges on evidence not revealed to them.

Press censorship and detention without trial will follow.

All these new laws will be used against the 'lefts' and progressives who do not accept the status quo.

Don't just rock the boat, sink it altogether. There is no construction without destruction. Tony Blair must go. - James Fitzpatrick, Gateshead.

TAX CREDITS

MANY families are to be cut off from tax credits because the Government helpline could not cope with the volume of calls.

Around 200,000 families have already been cut off and will lose up to £1,000 a year because they did not report changes to their income to the Inland Revenue by September 30.

Official answers note that the Tax Credit helpline could not cope with the volume of calls in September (nearly three million calls or 100,000 a day). Of these calls 153,000 were abandoned and 8,000 got an engaged tone. During the year, over half a million calls have been abandoned and 86,000 found the line busy.

Tax credits are currently paid to six million lower income families. For those who have missed out there will be a big hole in the family budget.

It is concerning that when families who may already be struggling try to make contact they are prevented by a helpline that is in meltdown. The Tax Credit helpline is not alone. It can take days to get through to the Disability Benefits helpline because there is a shortage of staff. Things may get worse if the Government goes ahead with plans to cut staff.

It is wrong for families to suffer as the result of problems with the telephone system. The Government must extend the deadline and give families a chance to get their cash. - Jacqueline Bell, PPC Liberal Democrats, Richmond.

SURGEON

I AGREE with Jill Kenny's letter (HAS Dec 7) about Mr Mahdi. In 1995, I had a hip replacement (not by Mr Mahdi) which wasn't a success.

Having gone through a lot of trauma after it collapsed three times and having been seen by surgeons in three different hospitals, I made it to Bishop Auckland through an emergency after being sent from Darlington.

Mr Mahdi found the problem and operated when he found the right replacement part. He kept me on bed rest till January, 2003 when he could operate and another three weeks to be sure it was a success this time.

I was discharged on March 3, 2003. It isn't everybody who goes for a hip repair and stays three months. My grateful thanks to Mr Madhi, he is very committed to his work and his patients. - D Nelson, Spennymoor.

HURWORTH VILLAGE HALL

Although I do not live in Hurworth, I know it quite well and when I heard that a concert was going to be held at the hall on December 3 I made my way there.

It was a delightful evening. A brass band performed very well, but the Grange Singers were superb. Their harmony was truly professional. Their renderings of South Pacific brought great applause.

This concert was put on to raise funds for the hall and while there were, of course, people there, it was quite obvious to me that the residents of Hurworth are quite oblivious to the fact that the hall needs money for repairs.

Maybe this letter will make local people think about their heritage and do something about it in the future, regarding fund raising. - R Rowe, Darlington.

ULSTER PEACE

SO near yet so far. Ian Paisley wanting photographic evidence of handing over of weapons. Gerry Adams said it would be humiliating.

There are going to be witnesses to the hand-over. What's the problem? Is a compromise so near that each side has failed to see it?

It is: after all weapons have been handed over then the photographic evidence can be taken, verified and handed over. Too easy. - S Scott, Shildon.

THE peace process in Northern Ireland seems to be on a knife's edge. What are the basics?

The conflict is due to the difference between two types of Christian religion, one being Catholic and the other Protestant.

Why do they not look at the Bible and remember what Christ said in the Ten Commandments. "Thou shalt not kill" being one of them. - E Reynolds, Wheatley Hill.

DOGS

NO home comforts here, no bed by the fire, no toys on the floor. Like all death cells these are bare. Only the most basic of needs are catered for here.

Their occupants are condemned to die unless they are granted a last minute stay of execution. Their only crime is that, for whatever reason, they no longer fit the lifestyle of the people who once loved them. Some grew too boisterous; some grew too big or too ill or too old.

You can view this scene at any council run dog shelter, where they are kept for a maximum of seven days. If they are lucky they will leave here and go to a happy life in a home where they are wanted. Those that are less fortunate... I don't want to think about.

Tiny bundles of fluff quickly become large bundles of hair. Dogs need exercise; some of them need a lot of exercise, and not always at a convenient time.

So if you were thinking of buying a dog as a present for Christmas this year think beyond December 25. Please think twice. - Colette McCormick. Spennymoor.