Letter: Scots, English and a leap in the dark

Sir: By all means reduce the numbers of Scottish MPs at Westminster. Scotland is, after all, over-represented. But that will not solve the West Lothian problem, for which the only solution would be complete exclusion while any English, Welsh or Irish business was on the agenda. Something that could be arranged quite simply if Scottish MPs were required to sit in both regional and UK parliament.

But it is invidious to give the five million inhabitants of Scotland a parliament of their own when a greater number of Londoners do not have and forum to call their own. Regional parliaments for the rest of the UK is an equitable solution and, if MPs are elected to sit in both parliaments, one that will seriously limit over-indulgence in non-productive waffle.

ROGER CHAPMAN

Keighley, West Yorkshire