CT RILEY suggests that foreign aid should be linked to programmes to encourage recipient countries to curb population growth (HAS, June 24).

This is not necessary. There is compelling evidence that increasing prosperity and improving literacy (particularly among women) will lead automatically to reduced birth rates.

Mr Riley overstates the influence of religion. While the teaching of the Catholic Church on contraception is deplorable, and must surely lead to unwanted pregnancies in poor countries, wealthy Catholic countries like Spain and Italy have low fertility rates.

The Islamic Republic of Iran has pursued a surprisingly enlightened policy. Literacy among young women in rural areas increased from ten per cent in 1976 to 91 per cent by 1996.

Family planning classes for all, and free contraception for women as well as men, have led to the world’s fastest decline in fertility, from 6.6 children per woman in 1970 to 1.9 today.

Compare this with China’s draconian one-child policy, which has led to a disastrous numerical imbalance between boys and girls, as female foetuses are aborted, and in some cases, baby girls are murdered or abandoned.

Education, not coercion, is the key. This is one reason why foreign aid is in everyone’s interest.

Pete Winstanley, Durham.

ONCE again the topic of overseas aid has come up.

To me it is quite simple, no country like Pakistan or India, or any other so-called Third World countries with a nuclear capability, should receive any aid.

JM Gowland, Heighington.