Letter: Smoke screen

"This is frankly as near to altruism as you get," said a BAT industries spokesman ("School defends its tobacco cash", 29 September). Tosh! Such bribes are aimed at encouraging parents and children to think less critically of cigarette makers, and at keeping the Government on side.

All those connected with the educational establishments taking such monies are surely unfit to educate our young. How can we complain if pupils come to accept the double standards of their mentors? Thus, the world will go on its way of money for the few, and disease, disablement and untimely, awful death for the many. Jim Brunton

Edinburgh