There should be full debate

I WAS most interested to read Mr D W Palmer's letter in last week's Times where he claims to have been the first locally to have emphasised the importance of making clear the advantages that could be gained by Britain joining the euro. Unfortunately he does not make clear what those advantages could be.

I have endeavoured to find out what those advantages are claimed to be from the Euro enthusiasts, and indeed what advantages are claimed to have been gained already by Britain's membership of the EU, from such as Kenneth Clarke and Michael Heseltine with singular lack of success.

I am the first to agree that on this most important subject there should be a full debate on the pros and cons but a debate is not possible unless both sides participate. The Euro sceptics have put forward their arguments but all that one gets from the enthusiasts are platitudes and unsupported statements that membership is 'inevitable' or that 'there is no alternative'.

I would be most grateful if Mr Palmer, either through your pages or directly, could help me clarify in my own mind why I should vote for Britain joining the Economic and Monetary Union should I be asked.

Paul Bates

Treleigh

Sydenham Damerel