Letter: Aids research short of funds

Sir: Jack O'Sullivan ("A new stonewall", 11 December) reported that right-wing campaigners are claiming that too much money is being spent on Aids, but did not examine the distorted basis of those claims.

Gordon McVie of the Cancer Research Campaign was quoted as saying that the Government spends pounds 14m a year on Aids research but only pounds 15m on research into cancer, which causes many more deaths. However, cancer studies are underpinned by a further pounds 163m for more basic research. Charities contribute well over pounds 100m for cancer research on top of this public funding, but there is almost no charitable money for research into HIV/Aids.

HILARY CURTIS

Executive Director, British Medical Association Foundation for Aids

London WC1