CONSERVATIVE councillor D Pearson (Letters, November 27) says that Britain pays the highest taxes in Europe.

This is simply not true -- on some items, we pay higher taxes and, on some items, we pay lower taxes, but overall taxation is not higher in the UK than all other European countries.

He also asks what the Government has done with the tax raised on fuel duty. Among the answers are: huge increases in the public money spent on improving schools and hospitals; a substantial increase in the state pension and a £200 winter allowance for pensioners.

Perhaps Coun Pearson will let us know if he approves of these priorities, or would he rather have a few pence off the price of a gallon of petrol?

PHIL RILEY (Secretary -- Blackburn Labour Party), Pleckgate Road, Blackburn.