I DEFINITELY support proposals to raise the limit for jury service to 75.

Pensioners are experienced folk who are often much more able to serve, particularly in lengthy trials, than people who are still working.

What’s more, I suspect they are generally willing to do so and excluding them is a bit of an affront.

Already, with improving life expectancy and dual income families, older people are finding their services in supporting the community are increasingly important.

The re-launching of the British Empire Medal for getting your sleeves rolled up in the community is to be applauded.

I confess to doubts on where some gongs, particularly the more senior ones, have been ending up.

In recent years there has been a tendency to give them to people who have already been rewarded, for example through the accrual of wealth or sporting laurels.

By contrast, in the Armed Forces there’s the double medalling rule which holds you can’t wear two medals for the same deed. It’s a good principle, but the pity is when people are not recognised at all.

I genuinely respect people who believe fracking will damage the environment, although I think they are mistaken.

What a shame though that the issue has been hijacked by the usual, predictable collection of left wing agitators and anarchists.

DEFRA minister Owen Paterson is correct to assert the limits of onshore wind farms.

No amount of wishful thinking is going to make these heavily subsidised, inefficient power stations anything other than a bit-player in our future energy mix.