n MAY I reply to various correspondents.

First, Mark Starr (Letters, Thursday, January 20). I do not suggest that a West Midland Regional government would be ideal.

However, a county representation of four in 161 would be an improvement proportionally to seven in 659 which is the situation at Westminster.

Furthermore, Scotland and Wales have autonomous administrations and the same will apply to the Six Counties when they get their act together.

Yet they still have a voice in Parliament concerning West Midlands and Worcester, even on matters which may not affect them.

Now for the confusing contribution from John Smith (Evening News, Friday, January 21). I am not aware, and do not believe that the EU Council of Ministers is advocating monitoring people's ordinary conversations so that criticism of EU could become a criminal offence.

And may I inform Jim Evans (Evening News, Saturday, January 22) that UKIP would be least likely of all the parties to free us, either from Thatcher's legacy or USA hegemony.

Finally, I remind F C Claxton (Evening News, Saturday, January 22) that democratic Germany has vehemently repudiated Hitler and his swastika.

D E MARGRETT,

WORCESTER