THE contents of my daily post-bag, and The Gazette's and The Basingstoke Extra's "Letters to the Editor" are often very similar.

Recently, the subject of young people "hanging around" and related issues have been prominent.

I sympathise with the 15 and 16-year-olds (and their parents) who write complaining that in several parts of the town there are no appropriate facilities for young people and that shopping areas or car parks are the only places to "meet up".

This requires attention.

I AM supporting the National Asthma campaign for "free" prescriptions for asthma sufferers because this will help ensure that they get the treatment they need as well as saving the NHS money.

One reason why asthma emergency hospital admissions are unacceptably high is that some sufferers are unable to pay for all the medication GPs prescribe. This puts health at risk and adds enormously to the cost of treatment.

"Free" prescriptions for people with asthma would improve the quality of their life and save NHS resources.

I AM glad that an increasing number of MPs now oppose the so-called "family-friendly" hours which Parliament adopted two-and-a-half years ago.

Under the old system, when the House met at 2.30pm, Parliament worked more efficiently.

Backbench MPs could spend mornings on constituency work and ministers had uninterrupted time in their departments.

Nor are the hours particularly friendly. Getting to Westminster for a 9am committee rules out family breakfasts and taking the children to school.

Two votes after 7pm mean that most of the evening has gone before most MPs get home.

The changes may have been well intentioned but they have not worked.