I AGREE with Chris Gallacher (D&S Times, Feb 17) that too much foreign aid is syphoned off by corrupt and despotic governments.

Corruption steals from desperately poor people who would benefit so much from the intended aid. The answer is to prevent, detect, and punish corruption, not to abolish foreign aid. If you have a leaky roof, you fix the leak, you don’t demolish the house.

Mr Gallacher says the money devoted to foreign could be diverted to health and social care. I’m sure all of us could think of areas of Government spending which could be cut to release resources for health and social care, although my targets would be different from Mr Gallacher’s.

But there is a simpler way to pay for necessary services – raise sufficient tax.

In all our other transactions, we know that you get what you pay for. A brand new car is more expensive than an old banger. The same principle applies to health and social care.

Surely we all want an excellent service, adequately resourced with well-trained and decently-paid staff. Sooner or later, each of us will need it.

What is stopping the Government from raising the necessary taxes to pay for something we all need?

Why put up with an old banger of a health service when we all want better and we can afford it?

Dave Dalton, Richmond