REGIONAL GOVERNMENT: WHEN it comes to the referendum on regional government I will certainly vote against it as it stands.

I cannot see how the powers of the Regional Assembly will make any difference to the region, because it will not have any legislative powers, nor will it be allowed to raise taxation locally to fund local services, especially education and social services.

If the Government believes in true democracy for the North-East it should allow responsibility for the major local services to be devolved from central government to the regions - like Scotland - and for the Regional Assembly to have legislative and tax raising powers.

In its present form the Regional Assembly will be an expensive talking shop, with local politicians defending their own areas; a vast bureaucracy and little progress being made on any issues.

And who pays for it all? The overburdened local taxpayer. - Alan Macnab, Darlington.

EUROPE

PETER Dolan (HAS, June 23) claims that "not having a Bill of Rights is what makes all MPs afraid of the European Union".

An excellent statement, with only one minor flaw: the UK does have a Bill of Rights and has had since 1689.

Jim Ross (HAS, June 26) states that: "this Government has devolved Scotland and Wales for the sole purpose of making them European entities... It is Tony Blair's sly underhand way of getting us all into the European Union."

Firstly, the decision to introduce the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh Assembly was ultimately made by the people's vote. Secondly, Britain - including Scotland and Wales - is already a member of the European Union.

Next time Tony Blair seeks evidence to back up his claim that the people of the UK are too ignorant for a referendum on the European Constitution, all he needs to do is quote some of the moronic drivel that appears on these pages. - Christopher White, Middlestone Moor, Spennymoor.

THE theme of the Darlington Carnival this year is Europe and coincides with the ongoing debate on the European Union Constitution.

Over the years, the original Treaty of Rome has been added to and it is time that the patchwork should give way to a unified agreement. It is opportune to do this at the time of enlargement of the Union.

During our discussions we need to keep in mind that problems which affect all countries can only be effectively solved by common agreement.

If we were to start by having solutions devised by each member state the time taken to reach a common position would be inordinate as sectional interests within each country exert pressures on governments.

What we in general are unable to do is to measure the benefits of what has been achieved so far. We are aware that international co-operation within Europe has brought about the longest sustained period of peace in the history of the region. However, it is harder to see that our national income is about two per cent greater by being in the EU than it would be if we were outside.

We must therefore look forward to the day when we adopt the euro to enable Britain to play its full part the workings of the European Union. - Bill Morehead, Darlington.

ENVIRONMENT

WHAT'S special about your local town? CPRE - recently renamed Campaign to Protect Rural England - is concerned that many market towns are losing their individual character as national chains push out the local retailers, 'identikit' housing estates spring up around them and traditional markets make way for car parks.

So, we're carrying out a survey and we want real people to tell us what they think, what they like and what they dislike about their local town.

If you want to take part, just get in touch with me, and I'll send you our survey form - or you can just write about your town and the surrounding countryside in your own words. - Nic Best, CPRE Regional Policy Officer (North East), 57 Olympia Gardens, Morpeth, Northumberland NE61 JQ.

INCOME TAX

I AM certain that it would be a fairer society if those who received high pay were prepared to pay more income tax.

I am equally certain that there is not the social cohesion in society for the rich to pay any more than they have to. Furthermore, those who aspire to be rich themselves sympathise with the rich who they would emulate.

I think that when Peter Hain was trying to open a discussion on higher rates of income tax he was floating a balloon. Naturally, the Prime Minister was quick to burst the balloon because it was a propaganda gift for the Conservatives. For my part, and it is because my values became embedded in the 1940s, I take the view that if I were earning a lot I would be prepared to pay extra taxation.

Electorally, the point is that people who think like me do not make up a majority, and as Peter Hain admitted in the draft of his speech, such a policy would mean that we would probably lose talented people who would emigrate to where they pay less tax.

Those who would like to see a better society and one based on social justice are now between a rock and a hard place. But there can be change in how people think. - Geoffrey Bulmer, Billingham.