IT is good news that Conservative Phillip Broughton is urging more transparency in the financial arrangements for members of Stockton Borough Council (Echo, some editions, June 27) as a direct result of what he has learned while out canvassing during the recent European elections.

For electors to feel confident that their representatives are going to act appropriately on the issues before us, which lie behind the recession, they must feel first that they can trust their representatives.

The faults which have had publicity relate to expenses claimed by MPs, but we do need to feel confident that the system for the payment of local councils is above criticism.

I look forward to the time when we can concentrate our minds on how to ensure that people losing their jobs, houses and pensions is not something many are worried about.

We need good government and government which sets in place regulatory systems that ensure that business acts with social responsibility. When we see right across the board responsible public authorities we shall begin to have confidence that one day everything will be in order.

Geoffrey Bulmer, Billingham.