Sir – I always enjoy reading Dr Dennis Lewis s letters in your pages, as a local Conservative politician for many years he still maintains one of the defining traits of his party, namely a selective memory. Less amusing was his criticism of the

Sir - I always enjoy reading Dr Dennis Lewis's letters in your pages, as a local Conservative politician for many years he still maintains one of the defining traits of his party, namely a selective memory.

Less amusing was his criticism of the Government for its lack of a coherent energy policy (WHT, June 11). Does Dr Lewis remember when Britain had a coal industry? Does he remember when the people of Britain owned the gas, electricity and oil production of this country? Most importantly does he remember who sold it all off?

Cheap, clean gas was the Conservative alternative to coal. The gas pipelines in the east were being constructed while the Conservatives were in power. How far sighted!

Dr Lewis is correct when he writes that oil prices did not rise a fortnight ago however, in economic terms the increase in demand for oil and gas and the subsequent rise in price was so rapid that no government policy could have prevented the steep price rise or protect the home market.

What Dr Lewis calls knee-jerk reaction on the part of the government is in truth the revision of policy in the light of unpredictable circumstances. I would describe this as pragmatic government rather than the 'style over substance' approach of 'Tory Nouvelle'.

It might be argued that if those power industries had not been sold off or destroyed by the Conservatives the government would now have more control over the supply to the domestic market rather than leaving the people of this country at the mercy of privatised power companies.

Finally it was the Conservatives who favoured road haulage over the more economical and greener rail transportation of goods and materials. The steep rise in diesel will inevitably be passed on to the consumer through price rises. Therefore the short sighted policies of a long dead Tory government still effects the fuel policies of the present government.

Gareth Lane, Knella Road, WGC