SIR - Your article covering Harriet Baldwin's carbon diet stated that she "claimed" to have shed several tonnes from her carbon footprint.

However, it would appear that the only steps she took were to change to a low emission 4x4 and to plant some trees.

Surely, it would have been more effective if Mrs Baldwin had made more of an effort to reduce her household and political surgery consumption rather than simply offsetting with tree planting? Has she changed to energy saving light bulbs? Does she switch off all electrics at the wall when not in use? Will she be flying this year for her family holiday?

She says she'll be continuing her "diet" in 2008. I hope this reflects a change in attitude to her regular consumption rather than merely a crash diet - will she find herself secretly pigging out on carbon in the middle of the night when she thinks no-one's watching?

By the way, I didn't think 4x4s were capable of having low emissions.

ISOBEL ENDERBY, Worcester.