L SPITERI rightly says we should compare Britain's contribution to the EU with the subsidies we receive in return.

OK. Over the last 10 years, according to the Office of National Statistics, we have got back £7bn - a shortfall of £4bn, or £11m per day. That is enough in one day, one day, to build a new hospital in Malvern.

We have already been warned that, since the inclusion of the Eastern European block of countries, that rebate will be drastically cut or even cease altogether.

Where does Mr Spiteri get the figure of 80 per cent trade in Europe? Britain does not need the EU to survive.

Our most important export market is the USA. No more than about 10 per cent of our GDP is actually exported to the EU and when was the last time anyone bought anything in our shops that did not come from China?

As to his other comment "only a strong EU can check or thwart America," why exactly do we need to do this? Since when did America become the enemy?

I do not see them laying siege to our European shores or threatening to invade.

I find the concept of a European superstate arming itself to fight a perceived enemy absolutely terrifying.

It seems a very odd way to promote world peace and seems to indicate that they plan to keep that peace in the same way as Soviet Russia did - by force and fear.

CAROLINE BOVEY,

UKIP Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for West Worcestershire.