Aid works

In response to your article, "Cut aid budget to save money, say most voters" (14 July), I would like to highlight the profound impact this money is making.

The UK aid budget accounts for only 1 per cent of overall spending and cutting this could well be a matter of life and death for millions of people overseas.

Mozambique, just 20 years ago the poorest country in the world, has used international aid to train and pay for more health workers and to build health centres. As a result, the number of mothers dying in childbirth has fallen by more than 50 per cent in the past decade and the number of children who die before their fifth birthday has decreased by almost 20 per cent.

Aid works. There's no doubt it. It has played a life-saving role for poor people in many countries, who, without it, would be struggling to survive. The "luxuries" of medicines and education are things that we all take for granted. It seems an easy target to say "let's cut aid", but the impact of turning our back on those struggling to achieve minimal living standards should not be underestimated.

Oxfam Scotland fully supports the UK government's decision to protect aid from cuts under the current climate and hope this remains a long-term commitment. Whatever happens in Britain in the next few years we will all be guaranteed access to good basic services while the same is not true for the many millions of people living their lives in abject poverty.

JUDITH ROBERTSON

Oxfam Scotland

Bath Street

Glasgow