IRAQ: IF Mr Kelly (HAS, June 7) is so sure weapons of mass destruction exist in Iraq, why doesn't he phone Hans Blix and tell him where they are? This would save a lot of time and money.

The real reasons for the invasion of Iraq were: firstly for oil, not for the Americans to keep for themselves, but to have a voice in OPEC.

Secondly, this gives the US a base from which to launch attacks on any country that does produce WMD.

Thirdly, to finish a job George Bush's father started and left unfinished.

Is this the same Mr Kelly who wrote a few weeks ago criticising television presenters with a Scottish accent? It seems the lads in the Black Watch can lay their lives on the line for a war Mr Kelly condones, but cannot appear as a presenter on TV. - A McKinnan, Crook.

IT has just been revealed that Iraqi hospitals are in crisis. They have been under-funded for years and they are sadly lacking even the very basic everyday needs.

Now hostilities are over in Iraq, people are beginning to put forward demands for money owed by the Saddam regime. It would seem that, out of all the billions owed, two thirds of the total debt is due as compensation to Iran and Kuwait for the attacks by Saddam and the destruction of assets, namely oil installations.

Of the remaining balance, a gigantic sum is owed to our UN allies. Saddam Hussein began his reign 25 years ago. Armaments were freely sold to his regime: 50 per cent by America, the balance equally divided by France, China and Russia, the latter countries all opposing the war at the UN. America is prepared to waive most of the payment because the debt is down to Saddam.

Surely mega-rich Kuwait should re-negotiate compensation with a view to reducing it because the invasion was no fault of the Iraqi people. - Bernard McCormick, Newton Aycliffe.

EDUCATION

I AM appalled at the lack of encouragement given to our primary schools.

It is interesting to hear Keith Mitchell, head of the education department at Durham County Council, and the council press officer, talk about the achievements awards that are presented by the Minister of State for schools standards. These awards are presented for substantially improving results, every school year. This award has only been running for three years.

Out of three years, Deaf Hill Primary School, which I must add is practically in Tony Blair's backyard, has won the award twice. This is a great credit to the head teacher, the teachers and staff and the pupils themselves.

Maybe the Minister of State can educate the personnel at county hall that these awards and successes need to be got over to the pupils' parents so that they can see the amount of dedication and commitment that we are giving to our schools.

Everyone wants to print any bad things of our schools, so how about letting people know of our successes? - Councillor George Martin, Chairman, Deaf Hill Primary School, Trimdon Colliery.

AFTER reading about the closure of schools I felt great concern. Will this bring more deprivation to those areas already deprived? Although my main concern is the Dene Valley, I appreciate the loss in other areas.

Under these proposals we would not only lose our two infant and junior schools, but also one of our comprehensive schools in Shildon. This would leave Shildon without a school for 11-plus pupils.

It would also mean that all children from five to 16 years would have to travel outside the area for their education, causing more inconvenience and expense to parents and local authorities.

Small communities are built around local schools and churches. Can we allow them to be disregarded and scrapped? - Jean Morland, Bishop Auckland.

BRIAN SEWELL

WHY invite art critic Brian Sewell to the North (Echo, June 2) when we already know of his poor opinion of us?

On his recent visit to Newcastle his remarks were detrimental and unkind and the last thing the city needed on the eve of the announcement of the winner of the 2008 Capital of Culture bid. - Mr Howe, Darlington.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE

ANOTHER controversial judge, another lenient sentence for a sex pervert.

At Norwich Crown Court paedophile Michael Wheeler admitted to 11 offences against two 13-year-old girls, yet the judge jailed him for only three years. This child abuser could be back on the streets within a year.

The maximum sentence for the offence of unlawful sex with a girl of 13 is two years imprisonment, and since Wheeler has pleaded guilty to having unlawful sex five times, the judge could have imposed a sentence of ten years in prison for those offences alone, and there were still six other offences to consider.

The judge could have ordered that he serve all his sentences consecutively, instead of that he ordered that the sentences be served concurrently. This enabled the judge to impose a short sentence, while he blames the system. - Jason Roberts, Peterlee.

CHEMICAL WARFARE

MOWING the lawn displayed a nasty influx of green moss. In town I purchased a new liquid WMD deterrent.

Instant success! I have found a Weapon of Moss Destruction. - Harry Whitton, Thirsk.