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THE RAF Benevolent Fund has money it wants to give away this Christmas to help Battle of Britain heroes, and their families, in the 60th anniversary year of the famous Second World War air battle.

The fund, which last year spent over £15m helping over 30,000 people, is urging former RAF members, their relatives, friends or neighbours to contact them on a freephone number to ask the fund for assistance.

We are aware that behind the 60th anniversary celebrations there are many people involved in the Battle of Britain and their families, who may be facing difficulties or distress - often alone.

Calls to the RAF Benevolent Fund can be made on 0800 169 2942. - Air Chief Marshall Sir David Cousins KCB AFC BA, Controller of the RAF Benevolent Fund.

TRADE UNIONS

I HAVE never been in a trade union, but despite Margaret Thatcher's attempt to demonise and destroy the unions, I see them as a steady influence for humane standards in an increasingly rapacious world.

Trade union principles do not come cheap. Landmines are a text book example, ie the futility of trade unions demanding safer factories if those factories were turning out land mines to maim trade union protestors overseas

Ditto with tobacco factories. Even if we set aside the smoking versus health debate, smoking would still be a dangerous addiction financially.

Many school children and families cannot afford it without damaging their basic standards of living.

Life is more than jobs at any cost. The unions should be glad to see the end of the cigarette trade and could even buy out the factories and employ their members for other purposes.

The excuse that other countries would still make fags will not wash. We don't defend a murder on the grounds that if murder were stopped here it still would go on elsewhere. - E Turnbull, Gosforth.

BREAST CANCER

JOIN the stars and make a New Year's resolution to raise £1,000 for Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

I am writing to appeal to your readers to join me and a host of my celebrity friends in raising £1,000 each for the research charity, Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

Already, Emma Bunton, Barbara Windsor, Vanessa Feltz, lan McCaskill, Julia Carling, Lisa Riley, Lorraine Kelly and Chris Eubank have raised £1,000 or more for Breakthrough, and have made a New Year's resolution to continue their support of the charity into 2001.

I would be so pleased if your readers would join us in making a New Year's resolution to become one of Breakthrough's £1,000 Challengers and make a real difference to our aim of creating a future free from the fear of breast cancer.

For every £1,000 raised by readers our campaign sponsor, Kodak, has pledged to give an extra £100. And everyone who reaches their target will have their name included on a Challenger's wall in Breakthrough's research centre.

For details of how to join the stars just call 020 7557 6611. - Gaby Roslin, Patron, Breakthrough Breast Cancer £1,000 Challenge.

SMACKING

THE recent poll of parents (Echo, Dec 9) shows 84 per cent in favour of parents having the right to chose whether or not they discipline their children by smacking and allowing a childminder to do so too, if necessary.

There is a vast difference between corrective smacking and child abuse. No one would condone severe beating but a smack is a centuries old, tried and tested way of disciplining a child when other methods fail.

The poll shows a majority of parents with a sensible view on this matter. They know that a poorly or undisciplined child generally becomes a wayward teenager who grows into an adult lacking in social skills and self discipline.

No child likes to be smacked, but for parents to fail to bring their children up properly is just as much abuse as any number of beatings.

Bad behaviour in a child is often a cry for attention. Given a home life full of loving support and attention, a child shouldn't need very much correction, be it a smack or anything else. - EA Moralee, Billingham.

PARKINSON'S DISEASE

MANY of my friends have Parkinson's Disease which is a debilitating and currently incurable neurological condition.

The Government has introduced regulations to permit stem cell research into Parkinson's and other conditions. This research could lead to a cure for Parkinson's in the future which would dramatically change the lives of my friends and the other 120,000 people in the UK living with this condition.

I realise there are ethical concerns by some people and I understand them, but I believe that the potential benefits of stem cell research far outweigh these concerns. - Leonard Palmer, Hon Branch Sec, Cleveland Branch Parkinson's Disease Society, Darlington.

COUNCIL INTEGRITY

DURHAM City Council has agreed to set up a standards committee to promote high standards of member conduct, (Echo, Dec 11).

Unfortunately, your article sought to introduce the matter in a negative manner by referring to unsubstantiated issues of no relevance to the subject.

The voluntary introduction of a standards committee is one of a number of initiatives being taken by the council to modernise its political structures. In May of this year Durham city was one of the first councils to open up its cabinet meetings to the public and now intends to invite opposition members to take up places on the cabinet.

The introduction of a standards committee with independent representation and powers to censure and remove members from office will provide further confidence to the people we represent. - Mick Bennet, Durham City Labour Group.