05/04/04

Quangos such as RDAs , URCs, PCTs, Trusts, SHAs, Foundation Trusts, Police Authorities, Probation Boards to name but a few - which consist of people in positions with great power, appointed by Westminster, which no one in the general public knows about.

And this current status quo is precisely what the Conservative Party would like to maintain.

Quangos are in charge of millions, if not billions, of pounds, but does the public know how it is spent? Of course not.

But a regional assembly, voted for by the people of the North-East and answerable to the North-East, could keep these money spenders in check.

It is not another layer of bureaucracy. That bureaucracy already exists in these hidden quangos.

A North-East regional government would keep an eye on the spending of quangos and tell us - the public - exactly where our money is going. - Tom Blenkinsop, Middlesbrough.

IT is good that the North-East region is to be one of the first in the country to vote on whether or not to have a regional assembly.

It is a measure of the region's standing that it has been chosen for this.

For as long as I can remember, our local politicians have been saying that the North-East is not best served by Westminster and that the geographical distance between London and the region is too great.

With this in mind, along with having the power to conduct our own affairs, it would seem that regional government is the answer.

I believe the people of the North-East will give a positive response to the referendum when it is held in October. - LD Wilson, Guisborough.

pension CREDIT

I SUSPECT that Steve Webb would have been among the first to voice concerns if the Government had ignored previous experiences when introducing Pension Credit (Echo, Jan 14).

Your report on Pension Credit failed to take account of our decision to have a measured take-up ensuring that all minimum income guarantee customers were successfully transferred over whilst targeting those pensioners who we believed to be most likely to qualify for the entitlement.

We are continuing to write to all pensioners advising them how to apply and to ensure that no one misses out on any potential money, all claims received before October this year will be backdated to October 2003.

It would have benefited no one to have the Pension Credit Application Line flooded with millions of pensioners trying to call through on day one, but by taking the approach we have I believe we can secure our over-riding objective of as many eligible pensioners as possible making successful applications.

My ministerial colleagues and I are determined to see as many eligible people as possible receiving Pension Credit and I believe that our approach is the best way to securing that.

Needless to say comments like those from Mr Webb do nothing to encourage those who have yet to apply. Pension Credit can and is making a huge difference to our poorer pensioners and once again I would urge those who have not applied to do so. - Malcolm Wicks MP, Minister of State for Work and Pensions.

COUNCIL FINANCES

A REPORT (Echo, Mar 30) gave a strong clue as to how to vote in the forthcoming unitary elections.

Apparently, Durham County Council continues to subsidise councillors' and staff meals to the tune of £350,000 per year while it is to withdraw its subsidy to the meals on wheels service.

Defending this cut a county council spokesperson said: "There is an element of the old age pension which is for food."

Is there not equally an element of councillors' allowances and staff wages for food?

This attitude is in line with its current closure of residential homes and its proposals for school closures and amalgamations, though these seem to have been put on hold until after the elections.

It appears to be an attack on the vulnerable and protection for vested interests.

If the county became a unitary authority we would soon see on which side our bread was buttered. - WC Stockdale, Consett.

HEALTH SERVICE

IT is a savage indictment of our mental health system that so many people are being prescribed anti-depressants for only mild, often transient depression.

As someone who is clinically depressed with a severe anxiety disorder, I have first-hand experience of long waiting times for counsellors and therapists.

It is an appalling fact that there is a nine-month wait for counselling at my doctor's surgery in Northallerton.

A quick fix solution for mild anxiety problems is definitely not the answer. These unfortunate people need time to talk and to get things off their chests.

Why are there such desperate shortages of NHS counsellors and therapists?

When 80 per cent of doctors over-prescribe anti-depressants something is definitely awry, and one in three doctors' appointments involves a depressive patient.

I can vouch for the fact that these drugs can often have severe side-effects. Thankfully, my main side-effect is feeling languid and sluggish.

The solution seems plain to me - more urgent money and provision for therapy and counselling.

I have often said to friends who suffer with severe depression that the pressure on doctors for people with anxiety and depression is going to be tremendous over the next 20 or 30 years.

We blame stress caused by the increasing strains and pressure of modern living. - Ken Jackson, Northallerton.

Darlington FC

CHRISTOPHER Wardell's idea to forget all about the Reynolds Arena and return to Feethams, our spiritual home, is sentimentally appealing.

Unfortunately it will never happen since it would be not be financially viable.

As a supporter of almost 40 years, I fear for the future of Darlington Football Club.

I refuse to believe the club would have folded but for George Reynolds.

We were seduced by promises which could never have been realised and we are paying the price now.

Unfortunately, as the Echo editorial pointed out, the future of the club lies in the hands of Mr Reynolds.

Time is running out and we can only hope he will cut his losses and walk away leaving Darlington FC where it was five-years ago. - Hugh Pender, Darlington.