Letter: Shameful aid cut

Sir: I am dismayed at the Government's decision to cut overseas aid by 8.4 per cent (pounds 180m) - this on top of a cut of pounds 124m last year.

I wrote recently to my MP pointing out that Britain spends only 0.26 per cent of its GNP on overseas aid, though the UN-recommended figure is 0.71. My letter was passed to the Overseas Development Administration, and in her reply, Baroness Chalker stated: "Your constituent mentioned the target of 0.7 per cent of GNP ... Our position on this remains unchanged. We've agreed to this target but not a timetable for reaching it."

Is it any wonder that we are becoming increasingly disillusioned with politicians.

VINCENT KINGSTON

Oxford