SIR - When we joined the EEC we were assured nothing could ever be forced upon us, because we would always have a veto.

To quote the official government pamphlet for the 1975 referendum: "The Minister representing Britain can veto any proposal for a new law or a new tax if he considers it to be against British interests".

Since then, however, there has been a shift away from the requirement for unanimity, so that more and more decisions are taken by majority voting.

Now the EU proposes to remove the veto on criminal justice matters, which were not even included in the original treaty. Our Parliament could then be obliged to change our criminal law solely to comply with the wishes of other EU governments.

There has been little publicity about this plan, but the next occasion when it will be discussed is on September 22, and there is a real possibility that Home Secretary Dr John Reid will agree to relinquish our veto.

It is no use waiting for the consequences, now is the time for us to protest to our MPs that Dr Reid should not surrender our veto.

Dr D R Cooper, Belmont Park Avenue, Maidenhead