Letter: Aid for the NHS

If my memory serves me right David Cameron made very public in his election campaign last year that two areas of government activity would be "ring-fenced" if he were elected, namely, the National Health Service and foreign aid.

Now if the government white paper "Equity and Excellence, Liberating the NHS" is to be believed, the element of competition in the operation of the NHS is to be introduced with private companies competing for what ideally belongs to a public service. This move will almost certainly reduce us to the harsh truism in trade that one can always find something cheaper but at the cost of quality.

Overpopulation, particularly in England, is unstoppable as a result of uncontrolled immigration. Population pressure on our overwrought health service is at dangerous levels and the 50,000 job losses envisioned in that sector of our national life can only lead to breakdown.

David Cameron should dismantle the "ring-fence" around the health service which he is presently engaged upon, he should shut down the Department for International Development and so save the 7 billion, annual outflow of our taxpayer fundings and re-allocate these to our foundering health service.

Alastair Harper

Lathalmond

by Dunfermline