LETTER : Welsh quango quandary

YOUR ARTICLE "Hague assuages green anger over Redwood" (30 July) was as wrong as your infamous "Privatising Snowdonia" stories. I proposed the transfer of some local functions like footpaths and Site of Special Scientific Interest management from a quango to elected local government in Wales. This was popular with councils and helped answer the criticism that too little was done by elected bodies. I also proposed cuts in the expensive overhead of the Countryside Council for Wales, preferring to spend money on services people wanted.

You reiterate old and wild charges from employees and former employees with most to lose from my policy. I am surprised you ignore the other argument, and forget your usual scepticism towards quango power.

John Redwood

House of Commons

London SW1