07/10/03

In fact, the Government has responded to public alarm by introducing robust measures to curb the influx. It has closed Sangatte, built detention centres, imposed summary fines on ferry operators and hauliers who bring in stowaways (whether unwittingly or not) and tightened the rules by which asylum applications are decided.

The result of all this hysteria is that, while many refugees are offered hospitality and friendship by local people, others are treated intolerably. They are imprisoned when they should be cared for, subjected to racist abuse, and refused asylum when they have suffered real persecution and are in genuine fear for their lives.

What more does Mr Wealands expect the Government to do without further compromising our obligation to provide sanctuary for genuine refugees? - Pete Winstanley, Durham.

EUROPE

TONY Blair told the Labour Party conference: "I've got no reverse gear".

Was this the man who has spent six years trying to con the British public that its destiny lay in joining the euro, but did not make any reference to it at the conference?

This could not possibly be the same irreversible Mr Blair who, in 1983, said: "Above all, the EEC takes away Britain's freedom to follow the economic policies we need. We will negotiate withdrawal from the EEC which has drained our natural resources and destroyed our jobs". - J Heslop, Gainford.

SHIPS CONTRACT

THE Ghost ships being discussed in Hartlepool at the moment were actually raised in the council meeting of September 11 when it was revealed an "informal cabinet" in July had been aware of plans to bring the ships here.

The ships also appeared in the decision record of the Regeneration Portfolio Holder's meeting of August 14, when the Portfolio Holder acknowledged public disquiet about the project but decided to endorse the ships coming to Hartlepool on job creation grounds.

How much better it would have been back in July, or August, if Able and the Health And Safety Executive had been clearly told that Hartlepool did not want these ships.

Unfortunately, the HSE was given the opposite message and was led to believe there was strong support for the project within the local authority.

Any scrutiny forum looking into the Ghost ships is likely to meet after the ships have arrived. However, these are only the first four ships, a further nine are scheduled to come here later, so there is still a lot to fight for. - Stephen Allison, Independent Councillor, St Hilda Ward, Hartlepool.

PENSIONS

SO the Conservatives intend to restore the link between annual pension increases and average earnings.

It is a return to 1979. It is what we expected but did not receive from Labour in 1997. It is a reason for supplements to pensions being offered to pensioners subject to means test, and those not good at filling in forms will remain in dire poverty.

The reason given for this U-turn is that this proposed change will not discourage savings by those in work. Gone are the arguments that because of the increased proportion of those on pensions, those at work will not be able to afford to give the pensioners a reasonable standard of living.

I do not think that people save less than they did because of means tested benefits. People do not save because of a lack of confidence in what the future will bring.

We passed through a period of inflation, and now those who have invested see their share values collapse. We live in a society where we are encouraged to spend for today. Everything is based on short term calculations, and the chance of a windfall.

The reality is that, for the majority of pensioners, the support they are entitled to should be what they would have had if the Thatcher era had not happened. What Conservatives now propose falls short of what every pensioner has a right to claim in a country that has substantially improved living standards for those with regular earnings in permanent employment.

It would be a gamble for anyone to put their trust in what the Conservatives are saying now. - Geoffrey Bulmer, Billingham.

CONSERVATIVES

JIM Tague's letter (HAS, Oct 2) made me smile. Does he remember his own leader's speech at the last Tory Conference? He maybe wants to forget it.

We have the fourth best economy in the world, lowest mortgage and interest rates ever, more people in work for decades, more money into the health service and schools than ever before, more money going to households with children, £200 cold weather allowance for pensioners, and free eye tests.

Under the Tories: four million were unemployed, 15 per cent mortgage and interest rates so thousands of houses repossessed year on year, the dreaded poll tax, the attack on trade unions.

No wonder they were kicked out of power. - Gordon Hodgson, Bishop Auckland.