B JACKSON (HAS, Oct 10) is rightly wary of quangos. In the North-East there are more than 100 of these shadowy, unaccountable Government-appointed bodies.

About 1,500 unelected bureaucrats decide how 80 per cent of public money is spent in the region. By contrast, our 12 elected local councils are responsible for the other 20 per cent, although most of that is pre-determined by Government ministers.

Yet Ms Jackson also condemns any elected body as “this will lead to extensive committees whose only interest will be self-preservation”. If neither elected nor unelected bodies will do, what is the alternative?

Chris Foote-Wood Prospective Parliamentary LibDem candidate for Richmond.