REGIONAL GOVERNMENT: ONE of the biggest problems for many parents in many parts of the North-East is the poor reputation of some local schools. Some can buy into an area with a good school; others can't afford to.

How would the proposed elected regional assembly contribute to improving education provision? Not at all.

The proposed body would be merely a bureaucratic talking shop that would take another chunk out of these parents' income - and everyone else's - without any benefits.

Another layer of government that doesn't actually do any governing.

Such an assembly would have some powers to set educational targets, for example. But these targets would not actually benefit kids, and would not help shape their future, but would detract from their education by further burdening their teacher.

I'm glad to hear that North-East Says No has been formed (Echo, July 13). It is time to say NO to an absurd idea that would make us poorer, and more over-governed.

Education, education, education - not bureaucracy, bureaucracy, bureaucracy please! - Dr Jonathan Scott, Darlington.

S WHITE (HAS, July 15) insinuates that people are somehow racist if they do not agree with a regional assembly. That beggars belief. It is just another example of the type of politics that comes from the left wing: if they can't win the argument, they'll shout "racist" and close it down.

To persuade people of their cause they have denigrated people in the south of England, many of whom are our friends and relatives. They claim that the south is the cause of all the North-East's woes - yet the decision makers are predominantly Scottish. Why not shout at Scotland?

They also resent any input from English people from other areas, saying that this is a North-East debate only. This is divide and conquer.

Labour has carefully controlled the debate on regional assemblies, but it is time the future of England was debated on a national scale by English MPs only. Then we can see who stands for or against England. - K Young, Darlington.

I HAVE been very encouraged to see that the North-East assembly will be granted a greater sphere of influence than first thought, as Thursday's shake-up of the national rail system by the Transport Secretary shows.

While the three No campaign groups squabble over which one will become the official one, the Yes campaign goes from strength to strength.

The assembly's remit should already give us a much stronger voice to help us iron out disparities, particularly on a national level and help us harness the area's true potential for growth. - Andrew Shorey, Heaton, Newcastle.

LIKE Harry Mead (Echo, July 15), I am surprised that part of Cornwall hasn't been annexed by Plymouth and I can only wish that Durham County Council had fought as hard to preserve its boundaries as Cornwall did.

I'm not concerned about the monstrosity that has been erected at Wynyard as it could have gone up anywhere, but I do get annoyed about those signs which say "Land of the Prince Bishops".

The Land of the Prince Bishops began at the Tees, not in a field between Stockton and Sedgefield. It's high time that Durham County Council recognised that the area over which it holds sway is a mere administrative district and not a true county. Perhaps this will fall into place when we get regional government.

There may be some encouragement in the recent citizenship ceremony held in Stockton, at which the High Sheriff of County Durham was present! - Peter W Elliott, Eaglescliffe, County Durham.

IF Sedgefield Councillor Malcolm Iveson was so sure about his council's survey results (HAS, May 28) demonstrating support for three unitary councils in Durham, can he explain why the borough is surveying its citizens panel again on exactly the same issue as it did six months ago?

Given that people are going to be consulted on the choice of councils in the referendum in November, isn't the current exercise a pointless waste of council tax payers' money?

It is hardly likely to influence the council's decision - it has always opposed a single unitary council and has been pushing for three unitary councils for over a year.

The only possible justification is that the council hopes that the people they consult and court on a regular basis will say the same again and create another headline for the campaign for three unitary councils.

Local council tax payers will have to ask whether this is an acceptable use of their hard-earned money. Government guidance suggests that it isn't and I would tend to agree. - Terry Hogan, County Councillor, Newton Aycliffe.

AS London is run by Scottish MPs from Number 10 down, who can and do vote on English issues but don't allow English MPs to vote on Scottish issues, will it be asking for the moon to have only people from this area sitting at the main trough (should that be table?) of a regional assembly?

We should end up with only English people running an English region.

No Scots please, bearing in mind there isn't one English person sitting in the Scottish Assembly. - Peter Brown, Trimdon Village.

KEITH Hunter, the managing director of TTE Management and Technical Training, voiced a clear challenge to any ambitious and enthusiastic potential leaders in the North-East (Business Echo, July 6).

I agree wholeheartedly with him when he states: "We need to be sure that the people running the assembly have the necessary qualities and skills to perform."

But I disagree strongly with him when he questions whether such individuals are available in the North-East outside the business community.

Essentially he is saying that people in the North-East are not intelligent, motivated or able enough to manage their own affairs. This is an insult, and wrong. Every day I am privileged to meet people in communities who are providing outstanding and inspirational leadership.

I believe excellent leaders exist in all sectors and I am confident that they will raise their heads above the parapet when the assembly debate begins to hot up. I hope this will include some business leaders prepared to test their mettle in wider regional affairs.

I agree with Mr Hunter on the crucial role of learning and skills in developing a suitably qualified and able workforce. Currently, Whitehall attempts to manage the four Learning and Skills Councils in the region from a distance. What better solution could there be than to bring them under control of an elected regional assembly? With local knowledge local partnership and a truly North-East focus, I feel an assembly could clearly drive the learning and skills agenda in the region. - Councillor Brian Walker, Cabinet Member with portfolio for Business Support, Durham County Council.