OUR Government says it is concerned about global warming, and proposes to ban filament light bulbs by 2009.

Yet the Government has just decided to retain import duties of up to 66 percent on low energy bulbs from China, which, together with VAT, doubles the shop prices.

Some people will find this so ridiculous that they may feel moved to complain to their MP and ask whether the Government is really serious about tackling climate change.

But they would be wasting their time, because for these purposes our Government is the one in Brussels which long ago took control of our trade, forbids removal of VAT and dictates about 80 per cent of our laws.

Recalling the protracted struggle to establish a democratic system in this country, and the many lives sacrificed in the defence of that democracy, it is remarkable that people are so complacent about the extent to which they are now subject to the whims of eurocrats.

True, it has taken several decades, but depriving the British of their democratic birthright has proved surprisingly easy - easier, perhaps, than taking sweets from a modern child.

MURIEL PARSONS, Campaign for Independent Britain, Calcot Park, Reading.