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IT IS good news that the new Micra will be built at the Sunderland plant and the decision ends months of uncertainty.

However, the indication is clear; Sunderland has been chosen because this country has not ruled out the option to join the single currency. The only reason this decision was on a knife-edge is because we are outside the euro-zone.

Nissan has consistently warned of the problems it is facing because Britain is outside the euro-zone. The car manufacturer has been badly affected by currency volatility, which led to warnings about the certainty of future investment. Carlos Ghoshn, President of Nissan, has constantly urged the Government to join the euro

Indeed, the choice of Sunderland has only come with other conditions. Tough cost-cutting measures are to be introduced, including paying for 60 per cent of the parts in euros.

If anti-Europeans had got their way and Britain had ruled out membership of the single currency, many inward investors would take their investment to Continental Europe.

The only hope is that the example of Nissan will make them realise this so the future prosperity of this country will be secure. - N Milligan. Regional Organiser, European Movement in the North East.

UNEMPLOYMENT

I WOULD like to respond to Mr Bainbridge (HAS, Jan 24). I, one of many, unfortunately was made redundant in the clothing trade before Christmas. As part of rehabilitation I took advantage of the 'UK On-Line' IT free training offered to the unemployed.

I was annoyed by Mr Bainbridge's attitude towards the unemployed; his comments were nothing short of thoughtless.

May I add to Mr Bainbridge's ignorance that he too, or his employed friends, can receive up to 80 per cent towards training through the college?

I will answer Mr Bainbridge's question on whether I attend this course just for somewhere warm to go on a winter's day, as delicately as I can.

There isn't a minute goes by when I'm sitting at the computer that I wish I wasn't doing the same thing elsewhere in some form of employment and earning money for it.

I wish this gentleman's friends every success in their careers and I hope their jobs remain secure.

I wish I was in their shoes with a steady income instead of hoping that my future isn't as daunting as Mr Bainbridge foresees. - G Pinkney, Crook.

PETER MANDELSON

WHAT a wonderful opportunity for the people of Hartlepool to rid themselves of Peter Mandelson. Never in the annals of parliamentary democracy has an opportunity presented itself so expediently and it must be grasped with both hands.

The wider implication of de-selecting Mr Mandelson sends a message to all the shallow spin doctors and agents that New Labour sleaze is no different than old Tory sleaze and should be treated with the same contempt. - DT Colling, Bishop Auckland.

HAS the media got nothing more profound than the Peter Mandelson affair to focus our attention on? It's only a trivial political misdemeanour, and not a national crisis.

Too many professional journalists write at the superficial level, and at great length, about nothing. They were probably good at English at school, but that seems to be the extent of their abilities.

They do not appear to have the concentration to focus on major issues which are vital to us all. The Mandelson affair isn't. It's just making mountains out of molehills. - M Jordan, Newton Aycliffe.

THE people of Hartlepool are not fools, no matter what the local Labour Party bigwigs seem to think.

They believe that, according to their spin since Mandelson's resignation, voters will forgive and forget, and elect Mr Mandelson back into Parliament.

He's done absolutely nothing for the town since he was elected anyway! Just imagine if Mandelson were to retain his seat? What is the rest of the country going to think of the Hartlepool electorate?

No, the people of Hartlepool are not fools, and Mandelson cannot win. -AE Pearce, Peterlee.

EUROPE

YOUR correspondent D Stock (HAS, Jan 25) is drawing quite the wrong conclusions from recent news items that Nissan has chosen Sunderland for the Micra after Brussels approved British Government support and that large areas of the North Sea are declared out of bounds for cod fishing by Brussels.

He writes that these are decisions by an "unaccountable unelected" Commission, whereas the facts are that the Commission is really controlled by the Council of Ministers, which represents all the EU national governments.

The Commissioners had to resign en masse not long ago after criticism by the popularly-elected European Parliament.

Further, both those decisions helped us in Britain in ways we could not have done by ourselves. The French government (remember, it partly owns Nissan) would not have accepted a unilateral decision by Britain to support Nissan, whereas it has not contested the European Union decision.

The other countries with cod-fishing fleets in the North Sea (especially Norway) would not have supported unilateral bans by Britain for long-term support of our cod-fishermen's livelihood. - J Hawgood, Durham City.

MENCAP

IN August/September 2001, Royal Mencap, the leading charity for people with a learning disability, is organising an 11-day, 450 km bike ride through the heart of Brazil.

The challenge takes cyclists from Ouro Preto to Rio De Janeiro, in the stunning landscape of the Minas Gerais region, famous for its 18th Century gold mines.

Experience all this while raising vital funds to increase opportunities for people with a learning disability. All you need to do is pay a £300 registration fee and minimum sponsorship requirement and then Mencap will provide you with flights, food, accommodation and bikes. Please call 0845 9777 779 to receive your Brazil Bike Ride pack or e-mail: eventsal English")$>WHA