REGIONAL assemblies will allow more important decisions to be made at a local level instead of in Whitehall. A survey of businesses in the North West, conducted by the Regional Policy Forum, found that 72 per cent thought that elected assemblies were good in principle.

The very successful Commonwealth Games in Manchester has shown what can be done by a supportive government to encourage jobs and business in the regions.

On enlargement, F. J. Waddington (Your Letters, July 30) should realise that it will give a potential internal market to the EU of 500 million people, an increase from the present 380 million and twice as large as the American internal market. That can't be bad for us!

J. HOLDEN,

St Paul's Street,

Ramsbottom.