OBESITY: MANY people are overweight through no fault of their own, unfortunately having a medical condition that dictates the way they look, and possibly how they feel.

I would sincerely hope that people are not suggesting such people are not as worthy as the next person for treatment within the NHS.

I fear I may have to go a long way to find a group of kids who ate more bon-bons, rhubarb & custards, pineapple chunks and the dreaded sherbet lemons than those eaten by my friends and myself.

The big difference is, we played football from dawn till dusk, and we walked the River Wear for miles, fishing every likely spot along the way, thought nowt of biking to Stanhope, St John's Chapel or Hamsterley Forest, and used the lurcher and ferret in about every field in West Durham.

Whilst it is true that junk food is more prevalent today, so too is the choice to eat well. OK, I prefer organic where possible, but the hated globalised supermarkets offer an array of healthy produce from all over the world, all with information attached.

Some people are simply making poor judgements about their lifestyles. - Jim Tague, Bishop Auckland Conservatives.

PETROL PRICES

THE recent increase in the price of vehicle fuel owing to a crisis in Saudi Arabia gives British motorists the most expensive fuel in the western world.

Many people do not realise that over 75 per cent of the price of fuel at the pumps is tax: comprising both duty and also VAT.

In the last few days there have been calls on Gordon Brown to reduce taxation to lessen the effect of the recent price rise.

Regrettably, he cannot do so because of our membership of the EU. In July 2000, the EU's finance ministers agreed not to reduce fuel tax in any one of the member states; the reason was apparently all to do with "harmonisation" - this agreement is still in force. Yet another example of government of this country from Brussels. - Chris Williamson, Durham Branch Chairman, UK Independence Party.

REGIONAL GOVERNMENT

THE article by George Cowcher of the North-East Chamber of Commerce on why business should engage constructively in shaping the proposed North-East assembly was very good.

What a contrast is makes to the constant negativity of the London-based CBI. - Damian Lee, Grangetown, Sunderland.

ELECTIONS

I HAVE some thoughts prompted by the present elections.

Why, after so many years of secret ballots, which were fought for, is the present Government so keen to get rid of them?

Second, the popularity of the European Union would be greatly enhanced if its bureaucracy were reduced, corruption got rid of and the ridiculous insistence on the use of the metric system for everyday purposes abandoned. - Peter W Elliott, Eaglescliffe.

EUROPE

LAST month ten new countries, eight of which suffered decades of Communism, joined the EU. This is something to celebrate.

Europe is now almost reunited, whole and free. But a Europe of 25 will struggle to function effectively with rules and institutions designed for a Europe of six. That is why we need the constitutional treaty. Helping the EU to work better by streamlining its decision-making. And if it's in Britain's interest to be a member of the EU, then it's also in our interest that the EU be as effective as possible.

In this new, more effective Europe, nation states will be firmly in the driving seat. The draft treaty makes it clear that the EU is a union of nation states, each with their own elected government, not a European superstate.

It is vitally important that we debate the facts about the constitutional treaty. That we counter myth and hyperbole with truth and reason. We British must not lose sight of the bigger picture.

This referendum is about much more than the detail of a rather dull treaty. It is a battle for Britain's future. Pro-Europeans believe that Britain benefits from being at the heart of Europe. Our opponents short on patriotism would rather we were semi-detached from Europe - or as far from it as possible. - Joe Keenan, Regional Director, Britain in Europe.

IRAQ

THE fact that the Government wants the United Nations to agree that the Iraqi authorities will not be able to prosecute our service personnel for any offence makes hollow the claim that we went in with the Americans to liberate them from a dictatorship.

If we are to make the claim of occupying the high moral ground we need to uphold international law. Nobody should be immune from prosecution for crimes committed. Our behaviour should not be that of conquerors. If it is, that alone is bound to encourage resistance from the whole population.

We shall never be able to win the hearts and minds of any nation if we treat any nation as lesser breeds. It is outrageous for any of us to think ourselves entitled to ride roughshod over the laws of the countries we occupy.

To have occupied another country by overwhelming military force gives us the power of enforcement, but not legitimate authority. We are no better than anyone else when we are not prepared to earn the respect and authority we seek.

First we went to war without United Nations authorisation. We went in on the false prospectus that there were weapons of mass destruction which were an imminent threat to us. We are not making amends. We are assuming that what is needed is a quick transition to a provisional government in Baghdad made up of people chosen by the Americans and to whom we give only very limited powers.

What is needed is a government there which has the support of the Iraqi people.

Our Government has no right to assume that what it is doing and proposing to do can be done in the name of decent people in this country. We want to see the creation of conditions which lead to peace and justice. - Geoffrey Bulmer, Billingham.