21/09/04

Is this not the rage of Caliban? After all, what is a columnist if not a serial letter writer?

As for 'reality', the Echo doesn't expect us to believe that wacky London vicar is for real, surely?

Actually I think getting Johnny Speight to recreate his Alf Garnett character as a cleric writing for a regional newspaper is just brilliant. His column is the comic highlight of my week. - VE Wood, Redcar.

REGIONAL ASSEMBLY

THE 'No' campaign is being accused of using "spin" - horror of horrors.

However, I have noted that the 'Yes' campaign refers frequently to Scotland and Wales, and even once to the US. Could this not be an attempt by inference to persuade us that we would be given powers similar to those in Scotland?

This suggests to me that they are very much aware that this would not be the case, and that they are worried that too many voters might realise this and that they are trying to use spin to mislead us.

Voters should be told clearly that the Scottish Parliament has full control of education, its legal system, etc, and in these matters it is in no way overseen by the Parliament in London, or by the House of Lords.

To choose a topical issue, it passed a law forbidding foxhunting with dogs two or three years ago. To choose another example, school children are not tested as they progress in the way they are here - this is the case in Wales also.

It would not be possible for the proposed North-East regional government to, contrary to the rules from London, do either of these things, no matter how much we wanted to within the region. - David M Bishop, Guisborough.

'YES' campaigners for a regional assembly wrongly claim the North-East could take control of its own affairs.

Examination of the Government's policy document reveals paragraph 43: "The Government could require changes to the (RDA's) strategy, if it considers that it is likely to have a detrimental effect on areas outside the region".

This actually gives the government more control over our economic development policies than it has at present.

For example, following the bad news about job losses at Jaguar in Coventry, any attempt by a prospective regional assembly to support the North-East's motor sector could be stopped if the Government chose to prioritise the West Midlands motor sector.

Instead of offering the devolved power that the 'Yes' side claims, the actual policy gives power explicitly to ministers in Whitehall. This is why the proposals should be regarded as fake devolution.

At present, councils can group together, as they have in Tees Valley or through the original NGI, and there is nothing to stop them competing with other regions. Paragraph 43 would give the Government power to stop a regional assembly from doing precisely this.

It's clear an assembly would have no real power and would cost us more. The answer is to vote 'No'. - Graham Robb, Middleton St George.

THERE seems no end to the lies peddled by the Government in its (unconstitutional) attempts to impose a regional assembly on the North-East.

First, an electoral system (referendum by post) has been chosen which the Government and the Electoral Commission admit is so flawed that it will never be used again.

Second, the Government has set up a so-called regional assembly and now asks us if we want one. Doesn't democracy mean the other way round?

Third, if the Government has a policy of providing regional assemblies for the UK why are there no regions allowed in Scotland (where there at least three identifiable regions) or Wales (where there at least two)? Why is only England to be split up?

Fourth, if the Government wants to change the constitution of the United Kingdom and create regional assemblies why does it not ask the people of the United Kingdom? Because it would get a resounding 'No'. So, instead, it is bypassing 90 per cent of the British people through a manipulative referendum in only one part of the UK.

Fifth, the regional assembly supporters have now been saying things in their referendum literature which are not in the actual parliamentary Bill. The successful and long established 'No' campaign in the North-East has been bypassed and Government money has been awarded to complete novices in this matter.

In any other democratic country in the world constitutional change can only be achieved after a two thirds majority but Mr Blair and Mr Prescott will throw out our system of local government if only 51 per cent vote in favour. - Rodney Atkinson, Stocksfield.

HAVE the likes of Sir John Hall and Ray Mallon been given extra information on the powers of the regional assembly?

It would be wonderful for a Northern assembly to have the same powers and finance as Scotland, Wales and London to decide our own fate.

But I feel that a number of restraints will be put on the assembly as already Nick Raynsford has stated that the assembly will have a 25-seat restraint so that the assembly does not trample on local authorities or try to usurp their functions.

Then there are the mandarins of government departments who are sure to put up a fight about any loss of power. - JR Stoker, Brandon.

HUNTING

I WAS reading the letters under the topic of hunting (HAS, Sept 20) and all I could do was shake my head at the ill-informed comments by your two readers.

If Norman Smith had read the Burns Report commissioned by the Government to investigate hunting in total, perhaps he would realise that he is wrong in all areas. Hunting has been in operation for 300 years and even Queen Victoria couldn't live that long. He seems to forget the miners' strike and the poll tax riots.

There are a lot of working class people who go hunting. The Burns Report, after an in depth investigation including post-mortems on foxes, came to the conclusion that there was no scientific evidence that foxhunting was cruel.

Animal rights organisations were invited to give evidence and they declined.

The hunting ban has ramifications on the racing industry.

Mr Riley and his gun ban has only created a smuggling racket and cottage arms industry converting replica guns to active weapons. - Jim Hamer, Darlington.