SIR - Gus O'Donnell, the Treasury official in charge of the Government's five euro tests, recently said that there can never be a "clear and unambiguous" economic case for Britain to join the euro and that it would ultimately be "a political decision".

This leaves Government policy on the euro in shreds.

Supporters of the euro are increasingly admitting that the economic costs of joining the euro are less important to them than the ability to strut on the political stage. They want Britain to give up the pound even if it causes economic problems for the rest of us.

But why should we put British jobs and prosperity at risk just so that politicians can advance their own careers?

Britain has done better by keeping the pound and keeping control of its economy. Our unemployment level is half that of the Eurozone and our take-home pay is now higher than any EU country except Luxembourg.

We now have the best economic outlook in the coming year of any major economy in the world.

Now we know there is no compelling economic case for joining the euro, it is time for the Government to be honest about what it intends to do.

Andrew Cope, managing director, Zenith Vehicles Contracts plc, Calverley, Leeds; Paul Moore, chairman and managing director, Rackhams Housefloors, Dewsbury; Christopher Royston, managing director, ServaClean, Bar Systems Ltd, Bradford; Colin Bennett, managing director, Viking Industrial Products Ltd, Keighley; Gordon Black, chairman, Peter Black Holdings Ltd, Keighley. John Pennington, chairman, Pennington's Live, Bradford.

SIR - I see that Tom Johnstone is peddling his own brand of euro mythology again (Letters, January 24).

While it is true that the French economy is stagnant and that unemployment is higher than in the UK, this is largely due to high social charges imposed on salaries which makes employers reluctant to take on staff and foreign investors reluctant to set up business in France. Britain has 'benefited' from having much lower social charges on salaries and foreign investment in Britain is the highest in Europe in consequence.

But this has absolutely nothing to do with the euro, the European Central Bank or the Brussels bureaucracy. The downside of lower social charges in the UK has led to a lack of proper investment in public services these past 20 years, the price of which we are seeing in the crisis in the NHS and the transport sector.

France, on the other hand, has the finest health service in the world and a public transport sector second to none.

Stuart Baker, Place St Michel, Etalle-Chantemelle, Belgium

SIR - I would like to thank Stuart Baker for his comments and putting me straight on the forthcoming membership of the euro (Letters, January 21). However, it would be advisable for anyone with enough interest to monitor this situation up to 2009 because I have an awful feeling that the goalposts will move considerably as to any referendum.

Furthermore, referendums have a habit of being written as to totally confuse the populous, so giving the Government complete control of the outcome!

Name-dropping has never impressed me, and I would have thought that any MP worth his salt would deem it essential to read the letters pages of the main newspapers (and I consider the Telegraph & Argus's to be one of the best).

In this way, he could keep abreast of what the people think.

That is, if he is bothered what the people think!

Trevor Williams-Berry, Bredon Avenue, Wrose.

SIR - Islam has been successful because it offers certainty and answers. Personally, I think the mystery of God is part of his wanting us to think for ourselves. Surely this is why he likes us to keep a sabbath...to think on the big issues, to reflect and choose a path.

John Walker, the American Taliban who had to ask whether to pray loud or soft, needed to be told answers. For those who seek the answers within, we exercise our God-given choice and are mature enough not to need to be told them.

Jack Higgins, Woodville Court, Leeds 8

SIR - With reference to Mary Robinson's letter (January 24) about the cost of the transfer consultation, I would like to make a number of points.

The Council has a legal obligation to inform all tenants about the proposed transfer and, indeed, we are committed to giving tenants all the facts about transfer. The Government also insists that tenants have enough information so they can make an informed choice in the vote.

The video was produced because research has shown that it is one of the most effective ways of explaining the transfer proposal to tenants. Any tenant who has been unable to watch the video should ring the freephone on 0800 0730182 and we will make arrangements.

It is worth pointing out that when you consider the transfer would bring in £175 million for tenants' homes and the housing service, the cost of the consultation material is small.

Of course, if the Council had not been so thorough in informing tenants about the transfer, we could have been criticised for not giving tenants all the facts.

Coun Kris Hopkins, Executive Member for Health and Housing, City Hall, Bradford.

SIR - Last week the T&A carried a front-page story on an armed robbery outside the Abbey National Bank on Duckworth Lane.

The facts that it was a robbery and that a gun was used didn't surprise me in the least.

What I was surprised at was that anyone could get near the bank, as every time I go there or drive past, which is almost every day, there are always several cars parked illegally on the double yellow lines.

On a recent afternoon, around 3pm, a police car with two officers was parked opposite. The officers totally ignored the car parked illegally.

Jenny Sampson, Rossmore Drive, Allerton.

SIR - I am expressing my thanks to a member of staff at Morrison's, Idle. He found my mobile phone in an empty trolley and handed it in.

It's good to know there are still honest people around.

F Wallace, Baddeley Gardens, Thackley.