SIR - The Committee of the Regions was set up in 1994 as an advisory body, composed of representatives of Europe's regional and local authorities.

The Committee has to be consulted, before EU decisions are taken, on matters such as regional policy, the environment, education and transport - all of which concern local and regional government.

The Committee has 344 members, of which 24 come from the UK. The members of the Committee are elected municipal or regional politicians.

They are nominated by the EU governments, but they work in complete political independence.

The role of the Committee is to put forward local and regional points of view on EU legislation.

The Commission and the Council must consult the Committee on topics of direct relevance to local and regional authorities, but they can consult the committee whenever they wish.

For its part, the Committee can adopt opinions on its own initiative and present them to the Commission, Council and Parliament.

The Committee is just an extension of the EU's rather complex democratic process, not, as UKIP would have it, some sinister organisation designed to undermine the national identity of Member States.

Stuart Baker, Markham Croft, Leeds