A REDUCTION in the disability living allowance budget should not be an excuse to press for a reduction in help to people in far poorer conditions via cuts to the overseas aid budget, part of which will help disabled people living a far harder life in other countries (ViewPoints, June 19).

Requesting the Government to reduce aid to the poorest people on the planet seems an odd response to harder times here. Instead, I hope the Government will get the money from where it is most abundant, by closing tax loopholes, preventing international tax avoidance and clamping down on tax evasion by the richest companies and individuals.

Uncollected tax in this country is estimated at over £30bn per year (HMRC figure), more than enough to cover many of the current cuts.

Similarly, tax avoidance by international companies also starves poor countries of their own much-needed tax receipts.

So let’s press for changes to hit those who can easily afford it and not those who already have the least.

PETER HENNESSY Hugh Allen Crescent Marston