SIR - Reading the most interesting literature from the Campaign for an Independent Britain, Independent Labour Peer Lord Stoddart of Swindon put a question to the Government (Hansard of 02.12.14 ) (UK Trade with EU). The Government confirmed that the UK's trade deficit with the EU has soared from £28.5 b. in 2010 to a colossal £56.5 b. in 2013.

Responding for the Government, the Minister of State at the Dept. for Business, Innovation and Skills and Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Lord Livingstone of Pankhead said: "The UK's trade deficit with the EU was £28.5b. in 2010, £21.7b. in 2011, £39.5 b. in 2012 and £56.2b. in 2013."

Commenting on the Government's response , Lord Stoddart said: "This trade imbalance graphically demonstrates that more than 40 years of EU membership has done nothing for our economy and for jobs. It also demonstrates that the situation in recent years has dramatically deteriorated with the deficit very nearly doubling in just 4 years . It is quite clear that EU membership is a millstone around our country's economic neck."

I could not agree more and I doubt that I am alone in this.

(Wendy Hands)

(Upton-upon-Severn)