NEW LABOUR: IN reply to Peter Johnson's letter (HAS, Jul 9) the Labour Party has given workers the basic minimum wage, the lowest mortgage rates and the lowest interest rates in living memory.

It has put more investment into hospitals, education and public transport than ever before.

Of course, after 18 years of neglect by the Tories it will take time to put right. We now have the fourth best economy in the world, taxation the lowest at source, £200 fuel allowance for pensioners (£10 under Tories), free eye tests, free television licence for over 75s, 500,000 taken out of poverty, more money for families with children, the first government to change the Lords. Not a bad record in seven years.

I could name more good things but look at what the Tories did. Privatised the railways and sold off British Gas, BT, water and electricity companies to their rich friends. - F Hodgson, Bishop Auckland.

HEALTH SERVICE

I HAVE been both a patient and an employee of the NHS (Echo, Jul 9).

As a patient I could not fault the treatment I received.

As an employee I was involved in varied and interesting work and met people from different professions.

Most people know that for many years the NHS was under-funded. Today the investment is being provided by a Labour Government that is keen to establish foundation hospitals.

Some North-East NHS Trusts have expressed an interest in these.

The suggestions that foundation hospitals will lead to a two-tier NHS is an old chestnut.

It is trotted out by those who are opposed to change. - LD Wilson, Guisborough.

BBC AND IRAQ

THE dispute between Downing Street and the BBC began when BBC correspondent Andrew Gilligan admitted that he was given information on the Iraq war by an intelligence agent.

It is a very serious matter if there is an agent who is willing to divulge sensitive information to Gilligan or to anyone. If such an agent does exist then that person would probably be prepared to sell information to an enemy of this country.

There are some very serious questions to be asked and answered. Is the informant a double agent? Was it the intention of Gilligan and the agent to harm the Government?

Gilligan should be made to answer. - Joseph Reid, Peterlee.

CHURCH OF ENGLAND

WHO does Peter Tatchell think he is? Demanding that homosexual bishops "come out" and tell the world of their sexual preference.

Everyone, be they heterosexual, gay or lesbian, has the right to privacy, no matter what their occupation may be. There is still a lot of homophobia in the world today, and for that reason most gay and lesbian people prefer to stay "in the closet".

Mr Tatchell's escapades, by causing the Church of England's General Synod to adjourn, by his vocal protestations, have done more harm than good to the process of homosexual equality.

What did he think he achieved by desecrating York Minster, by posting a notice on the door? - Name and address supplied.

EDUCATION

THERE is a simple way to turn Eastbourne into a high achieving school. Bring in the nationally acknowledged experts in education, the Ofsted inspectors.

Many inspectors are highly qualified teachers who have chosen to use their expertise to help support other schools. Others are experts who for one reason or another have chosen to leave the classroom. However, what they all have in common is an uncanny ability to differentiate between success and failure at all levels in our education system.

It seems eminently sensible to me therefore, that a team of these experts could be drafted into Eastbourne to teach full timetables in their own subjects for at least two years.

It would achieve two things. Firstly, with such a high level of participating expertise, achievement levels would be bound to soar. Secondly, with inspectors as role models, teachers would find the inspiration needed, all around them, on a daily basis. Costs would be minimal as Ofsted inspectors are already paid for coming into schools and money does seem to be available in the current plan. I'm sure the vast majority would relish the challenge of daily life in the classroom and I can think of no finer personal reward than to be able to walk away from the school after their two-year stint, to see Eastbourne at least on a par with Hurworth and, who knows, even ahead of it, in the league tables. - RA Dobson, School Aycliffe.

TERRORISM

I COULD not believe what I was reading "Blair urged to act over Cuba two" (Echo July 10).

Once again the loony left has raised its stupid head and wants this country to intervene on behalf of so-called British citizens arrested during the Afghanistan conflict.

Once people join terrorist groups such as al Qaida, they should lose their citizenship and all human rights except for the right to a free trial. - D Lythe, Willington.