MILLIONAIRES

I WAS amazed to read Hayley Gyllenspetz's comments in her column (Echo, Nov 27) about Judith Keppel winning a million pounds on Who Wants to be a Millionaire?

Is she seriously suggesting that all quiz show contestants should be means tested before they are allowed to play?

I am on long-term Incapacity Benefit and Income Support, but I do not begrudge Mrs Keppel her winnings, just because she is not on the breadline and is a relative of Camilla Parker Bowles. - Name and address supplied.

ROTHMANS

THE situation concerning the survival of the Rothmans plant in Darlington is now critical.

It is only a matter of weeks before the Tobacco Product Regulation directive comes before the European Parliament for a second time and it would seem as though the senseless and damaging export ban contained within it will remain as part of the legislation.

If this is the case, then over 500 jobs in Darlington will be lost.

Pressure must be put on Health Secretary Alan Milburn to change the British Government's position. This specific aspect of the directive is not about health but about jobs and livelihoods.

A ban on exporting the high tar cigarettes outside of the EU will not mean that people stop smoking this kind of cigarette, but rather that the manufacturing of them goes outside of the EU.

This is ludicrous legislation as it succeeds only in exporting jobs from the North-East. - Martin Callanan, Conservative MEP for the North-East.

POST OFFICES

WE have read a lot recently a lot from the Government and the Post Office about support for the rural network of sub post offices.

How is it then that post offices have to sell a book of first class stamps for £2.70 when the same stamps can be bought at Safeway supermarket for £2.50? For Safeway to sell at this price it must have received a discount from the Post Office. When the Post Office can undermine its own outlets in this way how can anyone believe the pious claptrap that comes from the Post Office, the Government and politicians of all parties?

No wonder the public have little trust in them. - TW Place, Aldbrough St John, Richmond.

EUROPEAN ARMY

AIDAN Ruff (HAS, Nov 27) asks for plain English, so here goes.

Aidan you are plainly wrong about Europe. Of course the European Union does not have an army or even a police force of its own.

Lots of us travel for our holidays to other countries in Europe. Hands up anyone who has spotted this mysterious "European" police officer. Of course there are French police in France, Spanish police in Spain and even bobbies in Britain!

Can you describe the uniform of the "European Police Force" Aidan? I don't think so.

As for a "European Army", Aidan moves from daft to dafter.

Britain is a paid-up member of both Nato and the United Nations. As part of our commitment to world peace and our own security, we agree that British soldiers should play an important role in both.

Within Europe, it seems only fair that there is some extra co-ordination to reinforce Nato and reduce the burden on our American ally. To exaggerate this into an independent European army is nonsense.

Come on Aidan, stop pushing the Tory Party line so blindly. It just won't wash. - Stuart Hill, Darlington.

DRINKING HOURS

I FEEL that I must write about Crook police's new after-hours drinking crackdown.

I am very pleased to see that there is absolutely no crime in Crook and Willington. So, to pass away the hours, Crook police officers have been ordered to visit all the town centre pubs at 11.20pm to make sure that they are empty.

There were 14 officers in one pub alone on Friday night.

This new crackdown serves no purpose except to create more problems.

At 11.20pm, all drinkers from all pubs congregate in Crook market place, all the food outlets are full, people take longer to get home because taxis are scarce. That's when trouble starts.

Also, this new crackdown will have an effect on the town's economy because more and more people will go out of town for their night out.

We are supposed to be part of Europe so why can't we enjoy their drinking laws? They are not told when to go home. - R Turner, Crook.

PENSIONERS

I THINK the talk about pensioners' poverty is wearing a bit thin. People and some of the press keep saying we only got 75p rise in pensions.

They don't mention the £150 winter fuel allowance, when we got £10 under the Tories and it had to be freezing before it was paid. Now pensioners get the money November, and it will be £200 this year for a couple.

We get free eye tests, which had to be paid for under the Tories, and free TV licences for the over 75s. - G Hodgson, Bishop Auckland.

BABY NAMING

I WAS intrigued by the report of the recent baby naming which took place at the registry office in Northallerton (Echo, Nov 17).

The article suggested that secular baby namings have not until now been an option for parents who did not feel that a church ceremony was appropriate for their family.

We were surprised to read this. The North-East Humanists have been conducting secular baby namings throughout the region for several years. Moreover, the British Humanist Association publishes a very useful booklet on non-religious baby namings, to help parents plan a ceremony with words and music which are right for them.

We believe that the fact that the parents have to think very carefully about the wording of the ceremony and the commitment they are making is very significant.

The namings can take place anywhere the parents choose and are delightful and moving occasions. - Jean Berkley, North-East Humanists.