24/03/03

Despite what people may have heard, the switch to paying benefits electronically is all about giving Post Office customers more choice, not less.

Anyone who wants to continue to get their money from the Post Office will be able to do so via a number of free-to-operate bank accounts, including the new Post Office card account.

If they are used to getting their money weekly, they will still be able to do so.

Four out of ten of our customers already have their benefits paid this way - they can take out as much money as they need whenever they choose, and don't have to carry lots of cash with them.

Nobody is being forced into a decision about what kind of account to have.

Over a two year period we will be writing to each person individually. The best advice is to wait until you have received the letter from us, then make up your own mind. There is further information available to help you decide, and a free telephone helpline, and all this is explained in the letter. - Andy Collins, Department for Work and Pensions.

SINGLE CURRENCY

NOW that the Sterling has fallen by over ten per cent against the euro are the papers going to be full of statements by Nissan's Carlos Ghosn saying that we should not join the single currency because exports have become more competitive. Of course not.

Statements made by Nissan are not what they seem. Look behind the smoke and mirrors and once you do you will not see a Japanese company, but one part owned by Renault, in which the French government has a near 50 per cent stake.

So when Mr Ghosn makes statements which worry all workers at the Washington plant, one of the most efficient and productive in the world, bear in mind who is writing his script. - Neil Herron, Sunderland.

WAR AGAINST IRAQ

WHEN the alliance drove Iraq out of Kuwait over ten years ago it was supported by neighbouring countries such as Syria and Saudi Arabia.

At that time it was promised that the utmost would be done to help the Palestinians. Nothing was done.

Palestinians are now more desperate than ever. I do not trust the promises to help Iraq when it is all over but, more to the point, the Arab nations will not be convinced.

It is because countries and peoples all over the world have come to realise that the governments of US and UK only pay lip service to the United Nations when it suits them that there was not enough support in the Security Council.

Furthermore, if they had thought it possible to get support from all the countries in the United Nations they could have called a meeting of the full Assembly. They cynically calculated that there would be no point in doing so because they would have been defeated.

I feel that Parliament in supporting the Government has shown more profoundly than it ever could that it is not representative of the British people. It is no wonder that such small proportions of the electorate vote in elections, but at the same time people are in fact interested and engaged in the affairs of the world.

We should be in a position to unequivocally support our military services in battle. I want as many of them as possible to come back safely, but I would not be true to myself if I pretended that they were involved in an action in pursuance of international law.

I dread to think of what the fall-out from this unnecessary war will be. - Geoffrey Bulmer, Billingham.

REGARDLESS of what we each may feel about the motives behind the war on Iraq or the means by which it was brought about, the dogs have been unleashed.

Consequently we must support our forces not because of politics or a surge of patriotism, but simply because they are the sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, aunts and uncles, cousins and friends either of us or of someone we may know.

Equally we must all hope that the end will be soon and that what lies beyond Iraq is not a Pandora's Box. - CT Riley, Spennymoor.

PETER MULLEN

SO, Jason Roberts (HAS, Mar 18) reckons we are not interested in Peter Mullen's thoughts of London, let alone, I gather, his thoughts in general.

Speak for yourself, Mr Roberts. Peter Mullen interests me more than any other columnists in this newspaper.

Few things are more annoying than parochialism. Which means that I'd probably be better off reading - instead of this newspaper - one of the national dailies. But thanks to London-based columnist Peter Mullen there's no need for this. What a cracking columnist this fellow is; he's the king. - Alfred H Lister, Guisborough.

FUEL PRICES

SINCE Christmas the threat of war has resulted in steady increases in the price of petrol and diesel. Sadly, this is a threat that will inevitably continue.

Fuel represents close to 40 per cent of the operating costs of running commercial vehicles - vital tools delivering goods and services to industry and consumers. If you've got it then it came on a truck.

As such it is essential that in his Budget on April 9 the Chancellor resists any temptation to add to the problems by increasing fuel duty and taking an extra slice for himself.

In the UK we already pay by far the highest rates of fuel duty in Europe and the Chancellor must not worsen what is already a major problem for UK industry. - M Bingham, Regional Policy Manager, Freight Transport Association.