SIR - Regarding the reports from horse riders claiming to be harassed by motorists, I can only express my heartfelt sympathy. It would appear that every other road user is fair game for these idiots these days: old people crossing the road, mothers with children, people walking their dogs. These excuses for humanity also treat considerate drivers with contempt.

Putting up signs warning of the presence of horse riders is no deterrent. In fact, it could well exacerbate the situation.

The solution is to put the perpetrators in prison for a minimum of five years, and at the same time confiscate and sell their vehicles.

I run a website for Rivendell Equine Defence and I would be pleased to hear from any horse rider or handler who has suffered at the hands of motorists.

I would like to know their experiences, whether the incident was reported to the police and the outcome (if any). Please specify if you would like your letter included on the website.

My email address is grampywebsites@yahoo.co.uk. All interested parties' emails will be treated in confidence

Trevor Williams-Berry, Bredon Avenue, Wrose.

SIR - I support the need for more appropriate facilities for the mentally-ill in Bradford, having worked at Lynfield Mount for many years.

However, just what consultation will be made with the local residents, and who will take notice of their concerns? Will the consultation just be a whitewash before any plans are "steamrollered" through?

I think there has been a considerable amount of development on Daisy Hill over the last few years. Has the mental health service perhaps outgrown its present site?

Anton Clark, Porters Avenue, Dagenham, Essex.

SIR - Barry Daniels (T&A, April 11) asks me to defend the decision by MPs to increase their pension by 13 per cent. I will not defend the decision because I do not agree with it and, in common with all Government Ministers, I voted against the increase.

The increase was recommended by the Senior Salaries Review Board, an independent body that makes recommendations on MPs' pay and conditions.

MPs were given a free vote on the issue and all members of the Government voted against it. Although a majority of MPs supported the recommendations, the Government has made it clear that it has no immediate plans to implement the increase.

Mr Daniels rightly points out that there are still many people who do not have private or occupational pensions.

The Government is acting in partnership with the private sector to encourage those who can save for their retirement to do so but also to underpin the incomes of people who, for whatever reason, cannot provide pension arrangements for themselves.

The new Second State Pension, launched this month, builds on SERPS and will benefit 18 million people, including those on lower incomes.

Gerry Sutcliffe, 76 Kirkgate Bradford 1.

SIR - I noted with interest your article last week detailing the shortage of both nurses and medical doctors. The reasons for these shortages are clear.

Firstly, when we pay a ward sister with 25 nurses in her charge and some ten years experience the same as a newly-appointed police constable, something is surely wrong.

The shortage of British-trained medical practitioners is due to the restrictive practices of the General Medical Council which controls the number of training places in the UK. Like the legal, pharmaceutical and accounting professions, restricting the numbers of qualifying keeps the pay artificially high compared with other professions. A true "closed shop".

A number of years ago, Bradford University tried to set up a school of medicine in conjunction with Bradford Royal Infirmary. It was turned down by the GMC as "there are already sufficient number of training places available."

It would be nice if these "closed shops" were made illegal, but with some 150 MPs belonging to the legal profession, that seems unlikely!

Dr Arthur Bailey, Nelson Road, Ilkley.

SIR - What a perverse view of life is reflected by P Ahmed (Letters, April 18). To suggest that heavy sentences provoke riots is the reverse of the truth.

Sentencing does not cause crime, it is the consequence of criminal acts. When a person decides to riot, he decides to risk up to ten years in prison.

The rioters are not scapegoats, nor an excuse for increased Council Tax. They are violent criminals, and someone has to pay for the damage they caused. Who, if not the taxpayer?

Mr Ahmed predicts better-organised riots in the future. If he will tell us when and where these are planned, it could help in planning the prison accommodation the rioters will be needing.

L Hobsbaum, Willow Crescent, Bradford.

SIR - In the T&A of April 20, there was the account of a young man given a prison sentence for throwing missiles, and in the process suffered a broken jaw.

Post riots he "scarpered" to Pakistan, got married, and is now a prospective father. On his return he was given a five-year sentence.

His solicitor's plea for mitigation on the grounds that he would miss the birth of his child in November, and the "child's toddling years", reminded me of a Yiddish word '"chutzpah", which I understand to mean cheek.

An example of chutzpah is the story of the young man who murdered his parents and when brought to trial he begged for leniency - on the grounds that he was now an orphan.

Robert Hughes, Manor Gardens, Cullingworth.

SIR - In a recent letter about being ruled by foreigners, I didn't have room to mention loud-mouthed Ian Paisley and all his cohorts; also, the two known terrorists who are allowed to have offices in Westminster and visit Number Ten.

And then there are the Welsh who all have a say in what the English can or cannot do.

Why don't we get rid of all these people and have an English Parliament?

Why are we hanging on to Northern Ireland, Gibraltar, Falklands, and many other places? They are no good to us, and cost us billions a year.

If these people wish to remain British, by all means let them come and live here, and prove they are British.

N Brown, Peterborough Place, Undercliffe.

SIR - J R Smith (Letters, 22 April) is quite right to say that we need to use the law to deal with people who dump rubbish or allow their dogs to foul our footpaths.

In part, that's just what we are doing. Last year we dealt with 1,600 complaints about dumping and in the last six months we have taken formal action against 80 land owners where land has not been cleared.

Our dog wardens dealt with 360 complaints about dog fouling and 60 fixed-penalty tickets have been issued.

However, we could do more. I have asked officers to investigate the creation of a team of staff to deal with litter from take-aways and similar shops. Many of the streets in the district are spoiled by a few unsocial people who cannot be bothered to use litter bins or take their rubbish home.

In the city centre we will soon have ten street wardens who will tackle a whole range of issues including the problem of litter.

Councillor Margaret Eaton, Leader of the Council, City Hall, Bradford 1.

SIR - In reply to a letter from John Hall (April 16), England is the only member of the EU with no national parliament. This situation is undemocratic, dangerous and an abuse of our human rights.

I'm amazed no legal company has realised the money-making potential here.

Regional assemblies will be a talking shop; a tax burden, and a refuge for failed politicians. Let's have a fair and democratic European union, even for the citizens of England.

Eric Firth, Wellington Street, Wilsden.