EUROPE: IN making up our minds about the EU we should ask ourselves only one question. Has our current membership of the EU benefited us?

There is only one answer to that one: a very definite no.

What is the precise nature of the malignancy? Bureaucrats and computers. Real people have lost more and more control of their lives to faceless monoliths and the most pernicious monolith of the lot is that one in Brussels.

Any party that has the guts to fight the next election on an anti-European ticket would get my vote, because what we are being led into now, almost without our knowing it, is an act of national suicide. - T Kelly, Crook.

LES Arnott (HAS, May 26) causes some consternation with his condemnation of the EU as an irredeemably corrupt body.

Mr Arnott has hopefully approached the Commissioner in charge of fraud and corruption in the EU with his allegations and evidence, so that necessary enquiries and investigations can be made.

It is also possible for an individual to approach the European Court of Justice directly in matters of gravity such as seem to be indicated here.

An approach to the Court of First Instance might help if the infringement or misdemeanour does not concern disputes between member states, but individuals.

The legal order is the cornerstone of the European Community. Disputes are not solved by force. Member states (including the UK) have benefited greatly from it. - E Whittaker, Richmond.

ON the proposed European Constitution, the Prime Minister is making statements worthy of Stanley Unwin.

On a recent visit to Poland, he claimed that we are facing the most important question that a nation can face, but at the same time it doesn't really amount to much and it is not worth troubling the people with a referendum.

He also claims that the euro is vital for our prosperity, as Germany suffers massive unemployment and the eurozone is economically stagnant. However, his Government will decide soon that the 'economic tests' have not been met.

The time has now come for the batting backwards and forwards of emotional rhetoric and fear tactics to cease and to have the full, frank and open debate about what the adoption of the Constitution really means and where our future with the European Union is to take us.

We can no longer trust the politicians to act in our best interests if the whole issue is shrouded in lies, spin and deceit.

The time has come to trust the people. Who would ever dare deny us that voice? - Neil Herron, Sunderland.

AN independent report just published by Ernst & Young gives the lie to the spurious claims that investment into the UK and particular the North-East will disappear if we do not adopt the euro.

Currently, Britain is firmly in pole position among European nations, battling to win inward investment with an increase from 26 to 28 per cent of the global total available. The 12 eurozone countries have seen a reduction from 51 per cent two years ago to 44 per cent.

It is quite simple, overseas investors think Britain is a good place to do business. - Peter Troy, Darlington Branch, Federation of Small Businesses.

BOB IBBOTSON

AN article about the death of Mr Ibbotson (Echo, Apr 19) stated that he came to Darlington in 1967, and was responsible for bringing radio controlled taxis to Darlington. This is not correct.

The firm then known as KB Taxis (formerly Milligans Taxis), had already been 'on the air' since September 1965. In fact the occasion was recorded with a substantial article in the Northern (Evening) Despatch on September 17, 1965 when it was reported that six of the new Ford Zephyrs in the KB Taxis fleet had been fitted with short-wave radio sets at a cost of about £1,200, providing the first complete radio hire service in Darlington and a great step forward in the taxi world.

We had a long struggle with the Home Office to obtain the necessary licence to operate radio-controlled taxis as only emergency services were then allowed this privilege.

As you can well imagine, we were justly proud of our achievement and disappointed by your article.

Many thanks to all those who have contacted us about this. We appreciate your support. - Ken and Eileen Burley, Newton Aycliffe.

DURHAM COUNTY COUNCIL

FOR bare-faced effrontery, it would be extremely difficult to find a more arrogant group of people than Durham County councillors, who are considering a vote to give themselves a 13 per cent pay rise.

It absolutely beggars belief that they would do this at any time, let alone when there are so many cutbacks taking place in essential areas. The adage of "I'm alright Jack" will sit very comfortably on their shoulders.

It is truly amazing that last year, after the huge hike in council taxes, they purchased computers and now this year, after another huge increase in council tax bills, we are faced with a pay rise for the same people.

Is it that only people who have no conscience are elected to serve on this council or is it that they lose their conscience after they've been elected? - Mrs Hazel Davies, Durham.