IS there not something insidious about the need for a quango to oversee the conduct of officers and councillors? (LET, August 14).

Does this not smack of the 'Big Brother' syndrome? What does New Labour hope to attain by this nonsense? Nobody has the ability to stop corruption. History proves that.

For whatever reason a person becomes bent, be it greed, blackmail, drugs or any other vice, it is like a bad apple in a barrel. It cannot be removed from within. Active outside assistance is required.

The implication of the need for this committee is that the council officers and elected councillors do not now know how to conduct themselves.

What do the public service unions think of the inunendo? Are they of the opinion that these committees are needed and do they believe that sleaze and corruption is prevalent throughout local government?

If there is consensus between the unions and government, then is it not time for a clean sweep to elect a new lot of councillors and new professionals to run the service?

I believe bad management exists and failure to perform is pervasive, but that there is little corruption or sleaze in local government to necessitate such a waste of public funds in setting up these quangos.

WALT MEADOWS, Whalley New Road, Blackburn.