EUROPEAN UNION: HAVING been a reader of The Northern Echo for many years, I have to ask why it is that we only see information about the European Union in Hear all Sides?

On the one hand, Stephen Allison (HAS, Dec 9) talks of its perils and interference, and on the other, we have Bill Morehead (HAS, Dec 11) praising it to high heaven because we haven't had a war for 60 years.

What a shame it is that we don't have a political correspondent who can inform us exactly what goes on in Brussels and Strasbourg and what it means for the North-East - someone who can question our MEPs, whether they are voting for or against British interests, and ask local MPs why they slavishly ratified these decisions.

These are, after all, important issues, yet far more Echo coverage is given to football and fashion.

Perhaps Mike Amos, North-East Journalist of the Year, could be given something more substantial to report on than trivia and eating in pubs?

So come on, Northern Echo, let this be your New Year's Resolution. Report the truth about the EU, good and bad, so we can all see who actually governs us. After all, we are paying for it. - Graham Bull, Darlington.

HOSPITAL CONCERN

THERE is much concern in Bishop Auckland and the surrounding area about the closure of medical beds in Bishop Auckland General Hospital. Rightly so.

But the real point has hardly been mentioned. When Professor Ara Darzi made his original recommendations, when Dr Stephen Singleton wrote his recent review, they were positive about two things.

First, that there should be a single haematology service for the County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.

Second, that there should be a centralisation of in-patient haematology services, immediately incorporating the Darlington and Bishop Auckland services, at Bishop Auckland, and designed to include the Durham services. In other words, haematology should come immediately to Bishop Auckland.

There does not seem to be any sign of it coming. This is shameful. Bishop Auckland has relinquished services to Darlington. Now, when it is the turn of something coming back, it is being stalled.

It is essential haematology services are centralised as soon as possible in Bishop Auckland. There are many arguments that can be put forward for this, but the bottom line is a very serious one. It is essential for the safeguarding of beds, and possibly for the very existence of Bishop Auckland General Hospital. - Councillor Barbara Laurie, Chairwoman, Wear Valley District Council.

GENERAL PINOCHET

I AM at a loss to think why Eric Gendle was so offended that Lady Thatcher sent her condolences to the family of General Pinochet (HAS, Dec 14).

Lady Thatcher rightly acknowledges the debt of gratitude our country owes Pinochet for his support during the Falklands conflict, support that undoubtedly saved the lives of countless British servicemen.

I am more "disgusted" by members of the Labour Party who see the evil dictator Castro as some romantic figure and hero of the left.

Castro has admitted that Cuba holds political prisoners. Thousands more political opponents to Castro's regime have been murdered and those perceived to be "counter-revolutionaries" or fascists have been imprisoned without trial.

He established labour camps to confine "social deviants", including homosexuals and Jehovah's Witnesses.

Our country does indeed owe Pinochet a debt of gratitude while we owe Castro, a loyal Soviet ally at the height of the Cold War, nothing but contempt. - Des More, Darlington.

CAPITALISM

RE John Young's letter (HAS, Dec 18). Socialism, never mind World Socialism, has never existed anywhere, at anytime. The countries Mr Young refers to were state-capitalist regimes, intrinsically the same as the private enterprise model of the so-called West.

The faults of capitalism are not caused by the failure or greed of politicians, but rather are engendered by capitalism's very existence.

For example, there is enough food produced to feed the world's population. However, in a society that says "can't pay, then can't have", if you don't have money, you starve to death. The same goes for everything else we need to live, from clean water to medicines.

Wealth is not created by entrepreneurs, or businessmen in general, but by workers using their hands and brains to make the things we need to live.

Where it all goes wrong, however, is that the means to produce these things are owned by a tiny minority of the world's population, with the vast majority alienated from this process and having no control or ownership over the same - and where the things we need to live are produced solely with a view to profit for these few, and not for direct human use. - Steve Colborn, Seaham, Co Durham.

SOCIETY

SOME recent HAS correspondents believe life was better in the past and that restoration of Christian values is needed to get us back to crime free-times. However, this is simply not true. In the past, there were many crimes, but they were hidden and secret.

If there was child abuse, the child was guilty or lying. If there was violence in the home, women could do nothing. Gays could be beaten up with impunity. Racist attacks and racial prejudice were ignored. Prostitution was widespread in the cities, as was corruption.

Little, if any, of this was reported. Of course, nowadays the media reports almost everything instantly. I don't want to go back to those times with its secret hush-it-up crime.

But imaginary Gods, threats of imaginary hell or promises of heaven convince nobody. What is needed to deal with our modern problems is reason and the desire to work for the wellbeing of ourselves and all others. - Philip Nathan, Chester-le-Street.

CHRISTMAS TREES

RE your story about red tape blocking plans for a Christmas tree in Hexham's medieval market square (Echo, Dec 16).

Could the explanation that the need for permits was stopping such a request for a tree being fulfilled be put down as maladministration by the councillors and senior staff who knew the rules and regulations a long time before this occasion?

Now that it is evident that all the paperwork will have to be completed before any tree can be dug into place among the cobbles, will 12 months be enough time for a tree to be in the square for 2007's Christmas celebrations? - K Wells, Ormesby, Middlesbrough.

AFTER spending millions of pounds on the pedestrianisation of Darlington town centre, wouldn't you think a few pounds could have been put to one side for a decent set of decorations and lights for the town centre Christmas tree?

Never in my life have I seen such a dismal display - a set of pathetic lights dangling down. Whoever was put in charge of this year's tree should be attached to the highest point and used as the Christmas Fairy. Let's hope next year's tree is an improvement. - Bob Precious, Darlington.