THOUGH the BBC covers all the UK there is a difference in how the various nations are represented on BBC radio. There is a Radio Scotland, a Radio Wales, and Radio Ulster. but there is no Radio England. Instead there are local BBC radio stations.

I suggest that on St George's Day 2006 all the BBC local English stations should combine for the day and broadcast the same programme throughout England called "BBC Radio England".

The day could begin with a news programme called "Good Morning England" similar to the morning programmes for BBC Radio Scotland. Wales and Northern Ireland. During the day there could be a politics programme with a discussion on the position of England in the UK. Is it treated fairly?, has England been disadvantaged by Scottish and Welsh devolution? What are the alternatives to the present system? There could be a phone in discussion on this point. To the best of my knowledge there has never been a BBC phone in covering England. There have been phone ins on the UK stations and on the local stations but never an England only phone in.

An amusing programme might involve contributions from various foreign correspondents based in England as to how much they or their readers/listeners understand the difference between "England". "Britain" and "The United Kingdom".

There could also be a sports programme looking at sports in England and perhaps interviews with the captains of the various England sports teams. There could be an opportunity to consider the various ideas for an "English National Anthem" to be played at events where the England teams are playing, perhaps with a phone in or a Poll re the various options.

There could be a programme reporting on the various St George's Day events taking place throughout England and perhaps an historical programme on St George himself, who he was, why he became the patron saint of England and whether St Georges day is important to people in England.

These are just a few suggestions for how the day might be filled in but the idea of an BBC Radio England for St George's Day is a suggestion that I do believe you should consider seriously.

All surveys and opinion polls show that devolution has changed, and is changing, how the nations of the UK relate to one another and how people are regarding their personal national identity. BBC Radio England, even if it only existed for one day could provide an opportunity to focus on these issue so far as England is concerned.

Organising, for one day only, a radio station exclusive to England and covering the whole of England is not that much to ask for from the BBC and would I am sure be an interesting exercise for the staff in all the BBC local stations involved.

Neil Addison