Correspondence about Seera, the South East England Regional Assembly (September 5, etc), would seem to query whether the public identifies with John Prescott’s “regions” as a legitimate tier of government. Helpfully, the assembly last year commissioned a survey by MORI on this issue — naturally, at taxpayers’ expense.

Seera was recognised by 29 per cent of respondents, compared with 81 per cent who were aware of Ken Livingstone’s Greater London Authority and 34 per cent who had heard of the South East Environmental Group. The last does not actually exist — it was a “dummy” inserted by MORI to test the accuracy of people’s stated knowledge.

To those who support England’s parishes, boroughs and counties, it is reassuring that more people appreciate the work of an imaginary organisation than of their unwanted and unaccountable regional assembly.

Cllr Sheridan Westlake