29/09/04

Not only was the survey confined to one organisation, which does not represent all businesses in the region, fewer than one in four of its members returned their survey forms, suggesting that it was only those who were really motivated who took part.

For example, just 126 bothered to respond in Durham, out of thousands of businesses in the county, too low a number for clear conclusions to be drawn.

Opinion polls do not work as a barometer of views when they rely on respondents returning surveys themselves, which more often than not produces a self-selecting sample who are usually biased in one direction or another.

This is why the main polling companies (and earlier polls) will seek out a representative sample - a necessary condition for predicting the behaviour of a wider group.

From the details I have seen, this was not a representative sample and therefore not a scientific poll. It should not have been treated as such. - Dr Simon Henig, Senior Lecturer in Politics, University of Sunderland.

IT is discouraging that the myth that business is opposed to the creation of an elected regional assembly is once again hitting the headlines.

It would appear that the members of the North East Chamber of Commerce (at least the 20 per cent of them who bothered to respond to the poll) are out of touch with the rest of the region.

Not only does the poll appear to be unrepresentative of North-East business, but it is in direct contradiction to other, more credible, polls which have consistently shown the Yes vote leading by about 2 to 1.

A regional assembly will be able to support business and bring more jobs and prosperity to the North-East. A view held by astute businessmen such as Sir John Hall and Brendan Foster.

As Brendan Foster himself said recently: "A regional assembly might not be Utopia but the status quo is not the answer either."

The status quo is all that the No campaign has to offer. This is a unique opportunity for the people of the North-East - let's not miss out because a handful of businessmen are too timid to grasp the future. - Alison Chappell, Newcastle.

YOUR massively over-the-top coverage of a questionable poll appears to be doing the No campaign's work for it.

I'm disappointed that a newspaper of your standing would give such credence to such weak material - only 20 per cent of those polled even responded. So even if 75 per cent of those opposed an assembly, that's only 15 per cent of all the business leaders asked.

Never mind that business leaders amount to under seven per cent of the whole North-East population, which, as the Yes campaign has shown, is 2 to 1 in favour of an assembly.

So whose opinion matters more - businessmen out to make as much money for themselves as possible, or normal North-Easterners? - Damian Lee, Sunderland.

AROUND 74 per cent of business people are against a North-East assembly. So is UKIP, so is the Conservative Party, so is the BNP and so are every other loopy right wing group.

That clinches it for me. I am definitely voting Yes in November. - Mark Winskell, Heaton.

I FEEL I had to respond to the prominent headlines in your newspaper that business is against the regional assembly.

This headline was derived from a small and unrepresentative poll of business "leaders".

Firstly, many business people are very firmly and vocally in support of the regional assembly. Many business leaders can see the advantage of a real voice for our region especially when Scotland, which already has devolved government, is on our doorstep.

If we do not get a regional assembly the advantages Scotland already has will mean our region will be further disadvantaged.

We will lose out on jobs and a vibrant regional economy. Seems like a case of shooting itself in the foot by the Chamber of Commerce.

Secondly, every positive reform is always opposed by the conservative minority and the Chamber of Commerce clearly falls into this category. Slavery, legitimising trade unions and sticking young people up chimneys were all opposed by businessmen in their day so it comes as no surprise this small, out of step minority are opposed to a regional assembly.

Finally, the referendum will be an opportunity for all of us to vote as to whether we want our region to have a greater voice. This is a vitally important constitutional issue.

This Government has given all of us a choice and I really hope people will take advantage of that choice and vote Yes.

Thankfully, this choice is not going to be made by the unrepresentative Chamber of Commerce.

Every legitimate poll has shown the majority of ordinary people are in favour of a greater voice for our region. - Ian Daley, Gateshead.

NOW that North-East Says No has launched its campaign we can see what it is about.

Campaign supporters seem to be making two main points.

Firstly, the assembly will be a waste of money, creating unnecessary jobs for politicians.

And secondly, it will be ineffective and does not have enough power to deal with the North-East's problems.

The creation of the assembly will actually lead to a reduction in the number of politicians by streamlining councils in Durham and Northumberland, something which many in local government have wanted for a long time. This will save money.

In addition, the new assembly will have roughly the same powers as the London Authority - less in areas like transport, but more in housing.

No-one is suggesting the North-East becomes a separate country like Wales or Scotland.

Devolution in London has been a success because the mayor and his assembly have been able to work in partnership with others to secure real benefits.

That is what the regional assembly will have to do. - David Taylor-Gooby, Peterlee.