Letters

THE Labour Government would have us believe that the current disgraceful level of taxation on fuel is for our own benefit, in its contention that it reduces energy consumption.

Last week my wife bought a bottle of water on a Liverpool-Sunderland train which had been imported from Quebec.Yes, an ordinary bottle of H20 which had been transported 3,000 odd miles across the Atlantic.

I fully agree about the need to reduce unnecessary energy consumption but let the Government be honest about their motives and consistent in their actions. - Carl Watson, Darlington.

LEARNING POWER

DESPITE the Government's promotion of more participation in work and learning by the over-50s, this group remains grossly under-represented in paid employment and on further education programmes.

According to recent research, about 33 per cent of 50 to 64-year-olds in the North are unemployed or economically inactive.

This is a tremendous waste of talent and opportunity. At present there is little serious research into the reasons why so few people, especially men over 50, participate in learning. However, it has been found that many men over 50 who have been made redundant are least likely to appreciate the vital link between further education and work. Their failure to participate could also be down to other factors, including cultural, in that going to college is seen as a non-macho thing to do.

If we are serious about life-long learning, this issue must be addressed if we are to create a more inclusive community and society. As one of its first tasks, the new Learning and Skills Council could place the educational needs of the over-50s at the top of its equal opportunities agenda. - Stephen Lambert, Secretary, South Gosforth Labour Party, Newcastle.

BATTLE TOURS

THE War Research Society is run mainly by retired and serving police officers and ex-servicemen as a charitable hobby. It was founded many years ago and supports a number of causes including the Commonwealth War Graves, Normandy widows and veterans.

We run coach trips to the battlefields and cemeteries of Northern Europe, namely Somme, Ypres, Waterloo, Mons, Verdun, Normandy, St Nazaire, Arnhem, Ardennes, Berlin, Belsen, Soltau, Reichswald, Rhienberg, Colditz Castle the Dambusters Raid, Buchenwald, The Rhine and Penninsular War. All trips have an experienced guide and conducted tours of the battlefields and visits to requested cemeteries and memorials are made.

Anyone wishing to visit the battlefields and cemeteries in Europe including groups visits, need only forward a medium-sized stamp addressed enveloped so that details can be forwarded. - Robert Hall, War Research Society, Dovecote Hall, Cockburnspath, Berwickshire, TD 13 5YW.

GREEDY IMPERIALISTS

JACK Straw thinks right when he calls for an effort to rid England of "the baggage of Empire". (EA Moralee, HAS, July 25).

Those imperialists were motivated by greed and self-interest and they used force, once called 'gunboat diplomacy' to achieve their goal of economic expansion and territorial gain.

No way can this be translated into altruism, which is what Ms Moralee seems to be doing when she mentions thousands of people once connected with imperialism pouring into England each year.

Constitutionally speaking, Ms Moralee, the manifestly contentious phrase "British subjects" still to this very day stands. And all because the crown is still in parliament as part of the British constitution. Agreed, the Queen has no say at all in Government matters.

Americans pay homage to their flag, not their presidential head. Meanwhile, here in Britain no end of persons, among them all politicians, must swear their allegiance to the Queen, not our flag. And all because they are, certainly on paper, still her subjects. The British constitution is difficult to defend. - Alfred H Smith, Guisborough.

LACK OF RESPECT

I AM convinced that Labour governments suffer from a lack of respect from certain sections of the populace. Witness Harold Wilson being harassed by the secret service, and nobody refers to Tony Blair as Mr.

I am also convinced that he is doing a far better job than the last lot with the knockers making much ado about very little. - FM Atkinson, Shincliffe.

SIR ROBIN DAY

I FIND so many media broadcasters out of touch with the world, and their interviewing is so negative. This, in my mind, does nothing to encourage ordinary people to take an interest in politics.

Special thanks then to Sir Robin Day for his inspirational and hard-hitting career making us young 'uns less afraid of looking more closely into current affairs and possibly have a go at the great political game. - Andrew Lightfoot, Bridlington.