Letter: A fair share for London

YOUR article "London overshadows regions in fight for funds" (7 April) discussed government expenditure going to London. It seems rather disingenuous not to mention the income that London in turn gives to the Treasury. The net difference is substantial.

Government figures show pounds 4,228 expenditure per head to London. Until the Government publishes figures showing exactly where money is spent, we must rely on other estimates, which show that London actually subsidises the rest of the UK to the tune of pounds 6bn.

However, as your article states, investment figures on London can be justified on the basis of social deprivation alone - 14 of the 20 poorest local authority districts in England are in London. I think it would be hard for anyone to call us greedy for wanting London's fair share.

STEPHEN O'BRIEN

Chief Executive

London First

London SW1