Letter: Debt waste

Sir: Last time round, Comic Relief raised about pounds 26m for UK and Third World charities. Sub-Saharan Africa repays that much in debt repayments to the West every day.

For every pound this country gives in aid to Third World countries, it takes pounds 3 back in debt repayments.

Cancelling Third World debt would not cost this government a significant amount. The Jubilee 2000 campaign has said that the total cost of its debt relief proposals is only as much as the USA spends on going to the cinema each year.

The Treasury is not expecting to ever receive the money back, and has made arrangements so that it will not be missed.

ALASTAIR TOMLINSON

Cardiff