The truth about our EU membership

Sir, There has been so much misinformation by the Brexit campaign that I thought it might be helpful to outline some basic facts about the EU and the UK for those voters who haven’t made up their minds yet on how to vote.

What is the EU? It is a union of sovereign nations linked by treaties.

Who decides what taxes you pay and how they are spent? UK governments.

Who determines our policies and regulations relating to education, health, housing, welfare, pensions, the minimum wage, criminal justice, domestic infrastructure and culture? UK governments.

Who decides our defence policy? The UK government.

Who decides foreign and trade policy? The UK government and Brussels share decisions.

Does the European Court of Justice have precedent over our legal system? Sometimes, but only on matters of EU law.

Immigration: who do we have to allow in as a result of EU membership? EU citizens but we can block entry on grounds of security.

Do EU immigrants impose a burden on the UK welfare system? No, they contribute more into the system than they take out.

How much does our membership of EU cost us on a net basis? Less than 1p per pound of taxes.

What benefits do we derive from being part of the EU? Better trade, better travel, study and research, deregulation of cross border industries leading to cheaper flights, no roaming charges, more competitive in single market leading to better quality of goods and lower prices.

What do we have to lose if we leave the EU? Difficult to say as it will depend on outcome of talks and negotiations. Our allies and friends think an exit is ill-advised and most probably will have a negative impact.

I urge you to join me and vote to remain.

Ursula Craig, Cove.