LIKE many military historians, I am concerned that the building of the new Paris airport may require the removal of a Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery in the Somme area.

All CWGC cemeteries in France are built on land given in perpetuity by the French government which does not, therefore, have the power to act unilaterally.

I wrote to my local MP to ask him to investigate what was actually happening. Within 48 hours, I had a reply telling which Government Minister was being asked for information. As it happens, my MP is a Conservative - Peter Luff.

I also wrote to my elected Members of the European Parliament. To keep a political balance, and to try to ensure that I would not receive a reply based on party political lines, I wrote only to the three Labour MEPs and one Liberal MEP.

Twelve days after I wrote, neither Michael Cashman, Neena Gill, Simon Murphy (all Labour) and Liz Lynne (Liberal) have had the courtesy to acknowledge receipt of my correspondence, let alone reply.

I suggest that effective representation at a personal level is based on the qualities of individuals and has little to do with party politics.

BARRIE DOBSON,

Fernhill Heath,

Worcester.