SIR - We have been moved to write to you as a group of employees because of reports in your publication concerning allegations made about management harassment and bullying at the Leeds Laboratory of the Environment Agency.

We would like to make it clear that the views which you are reporting are misleading. Over the last six months we have been led by new managers, new personnel staff, along with a new union team who have been helping us to make a success of this laboratory.

We recognise that there may have been some problems here in the past, but we have moved on and mean to continue to move on. We are proud of the progress we have made in recent months.

The new teams are showing us new ways to build openness, trust and empowerment - and we support them fully.

The professionalism and commitment shown by everybody here is equal to that shown elsewhere in the Environment Agency.

The analytical work that we do is carried out to a very high standard and recognised as such by United Kingdom Accreditation Service. We carry out an important job for the Environment and the public, and we want to be recognised for this in future.

Martin Langthorne (Yorkshire Regional branch secretary, UNISON), on behalf of the Leeds laboratory staff, Environment Agency.

SIR - How exciting it is that our T&A letters section has developed a strong international flavour, or should I say flavor?

Diane Duguid of New York is spot on in stressing the sanctity with which Americans view their flag (May 5). Children are encouraged to pledge allegiance to it every morning at school and (usually) put their hands on their heart in so doing.

Some commentators argue that "Old Glory" is really a symbol - the equivalent of which in this country is the Queen. This raises some intriguing questions.

By law, in the US, if the flag falls to the ground and gets muddy, it has to be burned in some states such as Massachusetts.

OK, I know what you're thinking. We'd just say "Watch your step Ma'am" and pass her the soap!

Sid Brown, Glenhurst Road, Shipley.

SIR - I have just read with interest the item about police clamping down on prostitution in Bradford.

Why don't the city fathers and the police get together and try and find a building in the city that could be used by prostitutes? I'm afraid whatever the police do, they will under no circumstances stop them offering sexual favours.

I'm sure if the police and the city fathers got their heads together and found a suitable building where prostitutes could ply their trade without harassment from the police, this might be a solution to a never-ending problem, as it has been in Amsterdam.

I note that when these prostitutes are on the streets, women coming home from working in city centre pubs, playing bingo or visiting a cinema are often accosted by males.

Surely if the prostitutes were offered a city-centre building, this would not happen.

Whatever the police do they will never, never stamp out prostitution and it's time heads were brought together to deal with this never-ending problem which affects many cities in the UK, not only Bradford.

Ray Banyard, West Park Road, Four Lane Ends, Bradford.

SIR - Would you like to buy your petrol at about 20p a litre, less than 90p a gallon? Of course you would! Well, I've news for you. You already do. And, at that, it's the cheapest in Europe.

The rest of the average 80p per litre you calmly hand over to your local, friendly garage is VAT, duty and (cop this one) VAT on the duty.

All of which adds up to a tax rate of about 400 per cent.

The price of petrol has gone up by an average 20p per litre and we are told it is all in aid of the environment.

Yet week in, month out, the one thing that would seriously dent the carbon dioxide levels in the world, natural deciduous growth, is cut down.

From stone patios and gravel gardens, to the burning of the rain-forests, there is a relentless attack on natural growth, and we are expected to counter-balance that with punitive taxation.

Somebody has got something wrong, somewhere!

The sooner we encourage everybody with cultivatable land, including your back garden, to stop covering it over and putting much more plant-life in it, the better. Better for the environment, and better for your health.

Alan Carcas, Cornmill Lane, Liversedge.

SIR - In response to Mike Priestley's view (May 5) that anti-capitalism is a narrow agenda, we would like to point out that overthrowing global capitalism and exploring the alternatives might well involve the following (listed in no particular order):

l Ending environmentally-destructive activity which endangers many species including humans

l Ending child labour

l Abolishing slavery

l Setting up efficient public transport

l Developing production of sustainable food and renewable energy

l Valuing home-makers and the elderly

l Ensuring free education and healthcare

l Protecting people and planet from the narrow and dangerous vision of corporate vested interest, etc.....

A narrow agenda? Isn't that enough to be going on with?

Sally Fildes-Moss, Nick Milsom and Daniel Werges, Wilmer Road, Heaton.

SIR - It is Councillor Kris Hopkins who needs to get in the real world. The rest of us are in it and fully aware that the Council are spending huge amounts of money on promoting stock transfer when 82 per cent of council tenants have stated they don't want it.

We are also aware that this government has the money to invest in council housing but obviously won't need to if tenants are being deviously led like lambs to the slaughter into privatisation dressed up as stock transfer.

I am a private resident but had the advantage of starting out on council estates. I have always wondered why rents from council tenants have been spent on anything but their homes, and now it comes to light this government has been siphoning billions off too in Housing Revenue Account tax.

Mrs A Carter, Paley Road, East Bowling, Bradford 4.

SIR - I am writing to say that the traffic lights at Fagley near the pub are great.

I used to hate coming home that way. I always felt it was dangerous with traffic coming from everywhere, but now it is 100 per cent safer.

Sue Carroll, Shelby Grange, Thorpe Edge, Bradford.