FULL marks to Alex Salmond for his initiative in applying for representation at the UN nuclear weapons summit. He has long had support for saying "no" to Trident on our shores and we have the right to make our objections known to a wider world. Let's face it. Westminster isn't going to speak on our behalf.

Janet E Cunningham, 1 Cedar Avenue, Stirling.

Struan Stevenson MEP is surely being mischievous (Letters, October 18). While it is undeniable that the UK will have more influence in international affairs than the countries he mentions (Finland, Malta, etc), nevertheless the influence that each of these countries does wield remains, crucially, "their" influence.

This should not be underestimated. To give an obvious example, Scotland's policy on nuclear weapons would be different if it were developed independently of Westminster. Given the location of these terrible weapons on Scotland's west coast, of course this would be significant, hopefully in a positive way, in terms of the international situation.

R A Dziewialtowski, 72 Bankhall Street, Glasgow.

Struan Stevenson has a propensity for trotting out tired old arguments as witnessed by his spectacularly irrelevant letter about the United Kingdom's influence as compared to the likes of Malta and Luxembourg. The point, that he is perfectly well aware of, is Scotland's lack of influence, even at a UK level. Of course maybe he adheres to the "we're too wee" philosophy that has blighted this country for so long. After all, we can't hope to be independent and rub shoulders with huge nations such as Andorra and Lichtenstein can we?

David C Purdie, 12 Mayburn Vale, Loanhead, Midlothian.