WHILE not wishing to enter into the argument about democracy in the EU, I need to correct Duncan Turner (Letters, October 10, 'The question was simple') when he claims the European Parliament ‘doesn’t even allow debates about legislation to it’.

It is true that the European Commission proposes new laws but these are sent to the Parliament where they are debated and scrutinised by one of its specialist committees, before passing to the full Parliament.

Amendments are proposed during a process that can extend to two readings before being sent to the Council. If there is still disagreement between the two institutions a conciliation procedure is invoked with a view to reaching a compromise which is usually agreed.

On a related point each member state proposes a Commissioner, who then faces a hearing before one of Parliament’s committees. This has been taking place over the past few weeks with the result that the French nomination was rejected.

This would no doubt be the fate of Nigel Farage if, as has been reported in some quarters, was to be proposed as the UK Commissioner. Maybe this is not a perfect system but it is a democracy of sorts.

Roy Worsley (former official of the European Parliament)

Kendal