12 JULY 2003, Page 29

Wanted: Russian gas

From Richard de Lacy QC Sir: I read Andrew Gilligan's article on President Putin (`Putin's not for trusting', 28 June) on the day on which the Institute of Civil Engineers published its report on the future sources of Britain's electrical supply.

The sole transaction around which Mr Putin's 'package tour' was constructed is the signing of an agreement for the supply of natural gas. As the Engineers point out, in the absence of a robust independent supply generated by nuclear fuel, this gas represents a significant part of the fragile thread on which British energy supplies will depend over the next three or four decades.

Richard de Lacy

Woodbridae, Suffolk