HEALTH SERVICE: I WAS astonished to discover recently that individual hospitals are not currently required to publish their MRSA infection rates in a comprehensive manner.

MRSA, just one form of hospital superbug, affects thousands of people every year and is caused by poor standards of cleanliness and hygiene.

By publishing individual MRSA rates, ordinary members of the public would be able to see for themselves how well a hospital is performing and would know precisely where they stood before receiving treatment.

It is amazing that this is not already a requirement and that, so far, only one political party - the Conservatives - is committed to ensuring patients will have all the information they require in order to decide where they wish to be treated. - Councillor David Potts, Member for Cleadon and East Boldon, South Tyneside Council.

LANGUAGE

SATURDAY Sermon (Echo, Nov 20) and EA Moralee (HAS, Nov 20) rightly condemned the foul language used by Sir Elton John during a radio interview.

Sadly, nowadays, for many such language is the norm.

During his excellent commentaries, the late Fred Dibnah could get away with a couple of harmless swear words, it was part of his vocabulary, but when a highly successful artist like Sir Elton, who has made millions and is an icon to many has to revert to the use of gutter language while on air, words fail.

In 1926, George Bernard Shaw refused to accept the Nobel Prize stating that he could forgive him for inventing dynamite, but not for inventing the prize. No doubt, at the time, his refusal would be put down to the eccentric side of him.

Yet, in today's climate, with the possibility of the likes of Sir Elton being offered such a prize, Shaw's refusal would prove to be both visionary and far-sighted. - Douglas Punchard, Kirkbymoorside.

WIND TURBINES

IT was a bit of a shock to see David Bellamy protesting about wind turbines but, having a lot of respect for what he has done in the past, I had to think and ask why.

Having written about the decadent waste of energy already produced, I realise the issues are not cut and dried.

We always maintained that privatisation of our excellent energy facilities in the 1980s was a huge backward step in energy conservation because private companies are there to sell more of their product, not less. That is how business works.

It did not help when the CBI joined in with the Tories to call our public services public monopolies, especially as now they will end up as global monopolies.

In fact, it would have seemed wiser to move to an energy system under a worldwide political control.

But haphazardly sticking up wind turbines, often in visually appealing areas, will only mean more waste and give people a false idea that they are helping to protect our environment.

There was a survey last year that reckoned equipment left idling, such as computers, videos etc, used enough power to keep one power station going. Add to that all the waste and we begin to understand part of David Bellamy's argument.

Meanwhile, people who moan about seeing the nastiness of soldiers blasting foreign townspeople should realise this has been going on for centuries to ensure that we can continue our comparatively comfortable lives. - C Davison, Billingham.

AFRICA

MR Kelly's latest outrageous comments concerning Africa (HAS, Nov 20) blame the left for the sorry mess and, following his attack on political correctness and slavery, cite the atheist and agnostic left, completely disregarding the historical facts.

The main beneficiaries of the vile slave trade were God-fearing Christians on both sides of the Atlantic, who also do not have a good record in making war, often for conquest and gain, especially in Africa.

In the Second World War, I and fellow RCs fought on the allied side against German and Italian Catholics.

Fascist Italy conquered Abyssinia and Albania, Franco's Catholic Spain was also corrupt and tyrannical, and Catholic Belgium's horrendous treatment in the Congo surely deserves Mr Kelly's censure.

Could some of Africa's problems be solved if the Pope allowed the use of condoms in both birth control and prevention of Aids?

I spent four years naval minesweeping helping to retain free speech and Mr Kelly is entitled to his views, however jaundiced, but I was amused by his comments: "Such people are so opinionated that they are incapable of learning from experience. Add their characteristic gift of the gab, and that's why they're so dangerous".

Was it Robbie Burns who said: "To see oursels as others see us"? - WI McNabb, Darlington.

MIDDLE EAST

THE death of Yasser Arafat brings the desperate Palestinian situation under scrutiny. Our Prime Minister calls for us "to reinvigorate the peace process".

Real peace cannot be possible, however, if there is no justice for Palestinians.

Almost 3,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks in three years - a quarter of them children, and many thousands injured. Illegal and inhuman occupation of Palestinian land; diversion of water supplies for Israeli use only; brutal destruction of homes, orchards and olive groves cause deprivation and starvation for defenceless civilians. Where is justice here?

One must condemn suicide bombings, the understandable tragic result of extreme Israeli provocation. Brutality of Israeli forces needs even greater condemnation; an arsenal of lethal weapons and demolition machinery against thousands of Palestinian families just wanting to live peaceful lives in their own homes.

Why does the Bush administration support Israeli actions by supplying large quantities of offensive weaponry and vetoing the many UN resolutions for withdrawal from occupied areas?

Justice and peace would require firm international action: economic sanctions, a strict embargo on all arms to Israel and a boycott of Israeli goods, in place until Israel's withdrawal from occupied land and restoration of Palestinian human rights. - H Bishop, Darlington.

HOUSE OF LORDS

NORMAN Smith (HAS, Nov 22) is absolutely right. The House of Lords as it is now should have no legislative powers whatsoever.

It may be a good debating chamber and, if so, should debate matters before these are considered by the House of Commons so that the Lords' views can be taken into account, but the vote should be left entirely to the elected members. - R Brown, Newton Aycliffe.

LOCAL HEROES

I ATTENDED the Local Heroes Awards at the Tall Trees, Yarm and I was most impressed with the wonderful way the programme was organised.

I thoroughly enjoyed every minute I was there and I can only hope you are able to continue the awards presentation for years to come. - Jim Caddy, Redcar.