23 NOVEMBER 1991, Page 32

Helpful contributions

Sir: Noel Malcolm's article 'Power is not authority' (16 November) is an excellent contribution to clarifying the political argu- ments about Europe. A pity, however, that while bemoaning the 'lack of conceptual clarity shown by so many of our leading politicians' he muddies the waters by insist- ing on wrongly calling the European Parlia- ment the Strasbourg Assembly. He knows that the Treaty as amended by the Single European Act expressly calls it a 'European Parliament'. As a cheap sideswipe it may suit his case, but it mars an otherwise help- ful contribution to the debate.

Martyn Bond

European Parliament, 2 Queen Anne's Gate, London SW1