Sir,

I never thought I would have to express any agreement with Sir Eric Howells CBE, but I find myself in total accord with him in his observations on the pernicious and unacceptable decision to cancel the planned electrification of the railway line between Swansea and Paddington.

However, he seems to have missed one significant point. This was not a decision of the Welsh Assembly Government. It is not within their areas of responsibility. The decision was made by the Westminster Government as part of their cuts programme. Please Sir Eric, get your facts right.

Some people may feel that in the last 10 years the performance of Westminster has in many ways been far from perfect. To follow from Sir Eric's logic, does that mean that primary law making powers should pass from Westminster to Brussels?

Reality should at some point click in. The present system which has the Welsh Assembly asking permission from Westminster to make laws in its limited areas of devolved responsibility has one and only one consequence.

Interminable costly delay. Not just in money, though this has been estimated at £2 million per year, but also in social well-being.

Measures to improve child safety on school buses, to provide affordable housing for our young people, to improve conditions for our mentally sick and make mandatory the installation of sprinkler systems in new houses, all have been delayed by this need to refer to Westminster.

It is surely unacceptable when measures supported by all parties at the Assembly are delayed by three, four or more years by the ridiculous political ping-pong that goes on between Cardiff and Westminster. It does not even provide detailed scrutiny of proposed legislation.

To raise the spectre of Welsh independence is frankly ridiculous. Current polls suggest support for this stands at approximately 10 per cent - hardly a threat for the foreseeable future. It is an attempt to stoke up irrational fear.

Lacking primary law making powers breeds a lack of respect. It seems that the announcement of the planned closure of the Welsh coastguard stations was made known to the press before the Welsh Assembly.

Even with these primary law making powers, the Welsh Assembly would still be weaker than both the Scottish and Northern Ireland Assemblies. Think for a moment: are we really saying that the people of Wales are so much less capable than the Irish or the Scots in managing even limited areas of their own affairs?

We can do no better than heed the advice of Shane Williams, that great ambassador of Welsh sport, when he says: "The vote is not about independence or even about giving the AMs extra power. It is about making what we've got work better. We've got to show we've got confidence in ourselves."

Vote Yes and show that hope is stronger than fear.

Janet Roberts,

Saundersfoot.