CONTRARY to the view of A Jackson of Darlington (HAS, Jun 15), the introduction of the euro in the UK need not mean price rises at all.

The smallest coin is one cent - worth just over the new halfpenny mentioned in the letter.

The range of coins is about the same as we have at present - the largest being two euros (£1.30). The smallest note is five euros (£3.35) so people will probably have less weight of coins in their pockets.

Toddlers were mentioned too. It will make no difference to them what currency they learn. After all, young people are taught metric measurements at school but have to convert back to the imperial measures of inches and pints (for beer).

Having recently been to Portugal and Spain, I can report that people have become used to the new currency very quickly. If they can do it, I am sure the British would not have any trouble. - Robin Ashby, Newcastle.

MR Hill (HAS, June 21) accuses the UKIP of not engaging in serious debate. On the contrary, Mr Hill's letter typifies the europhile response to anyone who has the temerity to raise real fears regarding the threat to our parliamentary democracy that the EU so manifestly represents.

The 'power spread' of the EU layers of governance so admired by Mr Hill are deliberately portrayed as 'democratic', whereas reality is so very different. The Council of Ministers and the European Commission are both totally unelected bodies and therefore (by definition) undemocratic and unaccountable.

However, it is these bodies alone which create and enact all laws, rules, regulations and directives which are then binding on all member states (totally bypassing national governments).

The European Parliament is the supposed 'democratic' element in the process of governance. The parliament does not engage in debate or scrutiny of legislation handed down by the Commission, it merely 'votes through' whatever is put before them (some democracy).

The pretence that this process is 'democratic' is insulting to all who believe in true democracy. One fact to be aware of is that, of the entire governmental apparatus of the EU, only four per cent (the 87 British MEPs) can we, the electorate, hold to account. Expressed another way, 86 per cent of this all pervading institution so admired by Mr Hill exacts provenance over our affairs without any degree of accountability. Withdrawal from the EU is the only guarantee that true democracy and accountability will prevail in our country. Only the UK Independence Party pledges to bring this about. - Dave Pascoe, Press Officer, Teesside Branch UK Independence Party.

AFTER reading the many letters sent to HAS on the proposed referendum on Europe, the question which needs to be asked is, do people come second in our thinking?

Most of the correspondence places too much emphasis on the loss of currency and employment prospects. They have some kind of notion that, if we remain as we are, nothing will change and we will always be the fourth wealthiest nation in the world.

They forget that Britannia once ruled the waves, but since those days we have had to change to survive.

By going into Europe we will be part of a nation of approximately 400 million people, among whom we can develop and enrich by sharing the many talents this country possesses.

There is an old saying that if you go out with a girl a twopenny pie costs four pence.

Those who shared their money in a new relationship may have encountered some difficult situations but eventually found happiness and created a new family.

The alternative was and still is isolation and loneliness. The choice is being made every day. - Thomas Conlon, Spennymoor.

GOVERNMENT SPIN

YOUR comment column (Echo, June 20), if nothing else, was certainly predictable. How wrong for Government ministers to defend themselves against the lies, libel and spin pumped out daily by the media?

For, of course, we must all believe everything we read and hear from newspapers, radio and TV. No one must ever challenge the Press.

The Press campaign against the Government in the last 12 months has been disgraceful, and it would make a change if credit was given for the enormous achievements made by the Labour Government in five years. It is the media itself that is guilty of 'spin' when it comes to distorting every utterance by members of the Government.

Try for a change front page stories about the lowest unemployment figures in decades, of the lowest inflation rate in many years, or interest rates at the lowest for 40 years, or the fact that one million people are treated by the NHS every 36 hours, or that greater prosperity is now enjoyed by the country. Yes, there are more things to do. After 18 years of Tory destruction, it is not surprising.

So, just for once, get behind Tony Blair and his ministers and stop the carping. - Frank Robson, Darlington.

MIDDLE EAST

IN his column (Echo, June 10), Harry Mead, like many others, seems to despair totally of the peace process. In places like Ireland and the Middle East, time and again countless thousands have built their hopes on it only to be let down with a real settlement being as far away as ever.

On TV, the Irish comedian Jimmy Cricket proclaimed that, in all Ireland, there were too many Protestants, too many Catholics and not enough Christians. That theme could be echoed for many of the world's troubled places. - D Punchard, Kirkbymoorside.