Sir, - Your correspondent's letter (D&S, July 21) concerning the future role of LEAs was both misleading and factually incorrect.

I have been involved with North Yorkshire's local education authority for 20 years, four of those as chairman of the education and library services committee. To imply that I am no longer totally committed to education in this county is simply ludicrous. I, along with all those involved, am rightly proud of the continued success of the LEA.

In reality, the problem does not lie with well-run LEAs like North Yorkshire's, of which there are many, but with those failing to give the level of service residents expect and deserve.

As Mr Hutchings will be well aware, the majority of these failing authorities are under Labour control and have suffered from poor political management for too long. It is only right that a responsible party should wish to address such problem at a national level.

Indeed, as the correspondent mentions, his own party is attempting to stop the rot by increasing in the proportion of funding which goes directly to schools. Far from assisting schools, this funding is ring-fenced, preventing schools from using the cash to address their own local needs, which are often very different to those of the Labour Party.

Conservative North Yorkshire county councillors will continue to provide the necessary political drive and management that has helped make our education services some of the best in the country.

JOHN DENNIS

Chairman of Education and Library Services,

North Yorkshire County Council.

Crossed lines

Sir, - I was somewhat bemused to read, side by side in your newspaper, two totally conflicting views regarding the future of local education authorities, both written by leading Conservatives.

One letter, written by the Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate for Darlington, fully supported the Hague line that "under the next conservative government, LEAs as we know them would cease to exist". The following letter, from the conservative chairman of the North Yorkshire education committee, was extolling the virtues of the role of his authority in supporting education.

Your readers may be interested to know that at the county council meeting held on July 19, the entire political spectrum of North Yorkshire members unanimously voted in favour of a resolution supporting the role of LEAs in promoting good quality education through local democratically accountable LEAs.

I think it is true to say there is almost total support from teachers and governors in North Yorkshire schools for the LEA to continue in its role of providing excellent support.

Recent statements by Labour ministers, and policy statements to be issued by the Labour party this autumn, will re-affirm Labour's commitment to the important democratic role that LEAs will pay in the raising of educational standards.

Perhaps it will do no harm if Mr Hague, as he claims to be a listening leader, heeds what is being said in his own backyard.

County Coun KEN HULL

Sea View Drive

Scarborough.

Play site approval

Sir, - I refer to your report about planning permission for a children's playground on Bainbridge village green.

It was reported that the planning committee of the Yorkshire Dales national park authority had deferred the above application at its meeting on July 11. This is incorrect.

The application was approved, subject to the receipt of satisfactory amended plans.

PETER WATSON

Head of Planning

Yorkshire Dales National Park

Authority

Bainbridge.

A pot calling...

Sir, - Richard Branson's Virgin Railways are called in to advise ministers on chaotic booking arrangements and waiting times.

In hospitals?

John Nicholson

Chief executive,

UK Public Health Association,

58 Langdale Road,

Manchester.

Hearing difficulty

Sir, - A statement by the Secretary of State for Health that digital hearing aids are available on the national health should be corrected.

My experience in trying to obtain a digital hearing aid has been unsuccessful.

As we are subjected to great pressure by the private sector extolling the wonders of digital hearing aids - having had them tried and tested by them for ten years - the NHS executive informed me that they still have to be evaluated, which will take some time to carry out.

S V Aspinall

Woodham Village.