Sir - I gather that out of the £250 million with which the UK provides India as aid, it manages to send a rocket to the moon, (estimated to cost "£260 million).

In addition I understand that "aid" is now described as "technical assistance".

India is being courted by other countries due to its booming economy and its Finance Minister commented "we do not require aid, it is a peanut in our total development spending".

Jonathan Isaby, Chief Executive of the Taxpayers' Alliance said: "taxpayers would not see much of a difference between the terms "aid" and "technical assistance".

Philip Davies, MP for Shipley and party spokesman for Blue Collar Conservatism said: "to continue to pour aid to India when we are in such debt and they can afford a space programme is indefensible and shows total disregard for hardworking taxpayers in this country".

At home our health and education budgets are being slashed. The Secretary of State for the Dept.f.i. Development, Justine Greening has been asked to justify the aid bill; she said that the UK is committed to continue aid until 2015. The aid's targets include boosting India's affordable housing, education and and teacher training, street lighting in Jaipur, a wind farm in Rajastan, a survey to assess abortions and unwanted pregnancies.

I am not a racist, closet or otherwise; nor I believe am I a fruitcake and certainly not a "berserker". All this speaks for itself and I am sure attracts cross-party consensus.

Wendy Hands

Upton-upon-Severn