Hear all sides: SINGLE CURRENCY

Nothing could be further from the truth. We can stay in the EU and keep the pound. We can keep trading with Europe and the rest of the world just as we are.

In fact, joining the euro could actually damage our trade because, first, it would destabilise our economy and second, whether Mr Pender likes the idea or not, the dollar is more important for our trade and investment than the euro, and the euro is extremely unstable against the dollar.

In many ways we are doing better than the eurozone. We have half their level of unemployment, our taxes are lower and we have higher take-home pay than everybody in the EU except Luxembourg.

Perhaps most importantly, the eurozone states have bankrupt pension systems, while we have more invested in private pensions than every euro country combined.

The problems of international politics will not be wiped out at a stroke by joining the euro. - Lilian Mains, Council Member, Business for Sterling North East.

IT seems that most Germans want the euro scrapped after just five months and have the deutschmark back due to rising prices on items since the change.

Are we being led down the same road? Is Tony Blair thinking for himself and not the people of this country who voted for the Labour Party, who want some say in the matter? - N Tate, Darlington.

IT is good news that Tony Blair seems to be preparing for an early referendum on the euro, if leaked reports can be believed (Echo, May 16). It is high time the matter was settled.

The danger is that Mr Blair will use his position and very considerable influence over so many, not to mention large sums of money, to sway the outcome in his favour. Mr Blair clearly has his eyes set on a position of authority within Europe, but he needs Britain to be completely under the sway of Europe, especially monetarily, for his ambitions to be realised.

When the referendum is announced, let us hope that there is a truly level playing field for all points of view to be expressed in the debate, also equal amounts of money on all sides so that votes are properly informed rather than brainwashed into blind obedience. - EA Moralee, Billingham.

PROSTITUTION

I wholeheartedly agree with the general comment by E Reynolds (HAS, May 21), on legalising/licensing prostitution. It will never go away and really preaches the human right of consenting adults to do something perfectly normal.

You may not like the way in which they carry it out, but it is still their own business.

It is also a way for those who live in 'loveless' marriages or those who are lonely and/or unsuccessful with the opposite sex to have someone or somewhere to go.

It is a lot better than the more unsavoury ways sexual frustration can manifest itself ie rape/assault, sex abuse within families and elsewhere.

Ironically, the Green Party is the only political force that supports the view of legal control of prostitution, be it by the individual on the street or in 'licensed' premises, either at home or a 'sauna/parlour'.

It's time we really grew up in this country regarding sex. - David Anderson, Leeds.

EMPLOYMENT

EVERY day of every week we hear of job losses and factory closures resulting in hundreds of people being made redundant. The Prime Minister has stated that since he came to power he has put 1.5 million people into work. Give me a clue somebody! - BE Cox, School Aycliffe.

DISARMAMENT

SOME time ago in HAS we had numerous letters from the likes of such as Hugh Pender and Pete Winstanley stating that the American Son of Star Wars plan would mean an escalation of nuclear missiles in various countries, including Russia.

We now see that Russia, under Vladimir Putin, intends drastically to reduce its nuclear arsenal. I don't expect we will hear an admission from Winstanley and Co that they were grossly mistaken, but are they also aware that Russia built its own Star Wars defensive system in the 1960s to defend Moscow from nuclear attack, complete with nuclear warheads not lasers? And can they explain to us why American Star Wars bad, Russian Star Wars good, since not one of them raised any objection whatsoever to the Russian system? - M O'Brian, Ferryhill.

PENSION INVESTMENTS

AROUND the world, 250 million school-aged children are at work and more than half of them work full-time. Another 200 million people are working in prison or forced labour conditions.

At the same time, ten million people in the UK have an occupational pension. British pension funds control the assets of more than £800bn, over half of which is invested in the UK stock market. This is the money of ordinary people across the country.

What is the connection? Your pension money may be invested in companies which abuse workers around the world. Or employ child or forced labour.

I have joined War on Want's Invest in Freedom campaign and would encourage others to do the same. It encourages occupational pension holders to improve workers' rights and thereby reduce poverty around the world.

At the same time, it protects your pension because decent working conditions are more productive, less susceptible to negative campaigns and, therefore, a better investment. - John Belvins, Communication Workers Union, Northallerton.