THERE are several answers to Mr Nicholson's question as to why I will not do constituency correspondence by e-mail (Letters, April 23), but one of them he supplies himself when he acknowledges that he has always received a prompt reply when he writes.

He would be a lot less likely to do so if his important correspondence was to be intermixed with a mass of e-mail messages that slow down and sometimes paralyse the efficient conduct of office work.

Constituents know that they are welcome to write to me, telephone, fax or visit my constituency office, or make an appointment to see me. If that is too much trouble for them, they really ought to ask themselves whether the matter which concerns them actually concerns them enough!

I have discussed this issue with numerous colleagues of all parties in the House of Commons, many of whom complain to me that their day is terribly skewed by the level of e-mail traffic.

My conversations with them have convinced me that it is better to be an effective MP and a good correspondent, rather than an e-mail drudge'.

DR JULIAN LEWIS, MP for New Forest East.