WHY is there so much confusion about the United Kingdom Parliament and the devolved Parliaments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?

Think of it as an enormous sports complex, where everybody has a say in the overall running of the ground and everybody pays for its upkeep.

Then imagine that three main groups enjoy football, rugby and cricket but they may want to play other sports as well.

Over time the football and rugby clubs gain control of funds sufficient to organise and control their particular sports, while at the same time contributing to the upkeep of the entire complex.

The cricketers however are quite happy to sit back and be a part of the whole scheme.

They are not interested in supporting only football or rugby (or having to endure endless internal squabbling) and are willing to be controlled and funded by rules set by the whole organisation.

But on the other hand, if they wanted separate control for cricket, they only have to ask.

IAN TERRY

Yewstock Crescent West

Chippenham