Charity failures

SIR – The immoral and harmful activities of a number of Oxfam staff (“Ministers to investigate aid abuse ‘cover-up’”, report, February 12) should make potential donors think again.

In my experience, donations are used more frugally – and are better targeted – by smaller, in-country charities. Lorimer Burn

Guildford, Surrey

SIR – Is this not the right time to investigate the vast salaries that heads of charities are paid for their so-called control of funding? Terry Nigh

Shanklin, Isle of Wight

SIR – With Penny Mordaunt, the Secretary of State for International Development, threatening to withdraw funding from Oxfam, one wonders how much more hypocritical the Department for International Development can become.

Every year it sends money to regimes where the use of prostitutes is low on the scale of unpleasantness. Few questions seem to be asked about the moral values of the recipients, and there is little evidence of money being withdrawn for moral reasons.

Surely the time has come for Dfid funds to be used more efficiently, for the general good of Britain. One way to do this would be to boost trade with, and investment in, developing countries. As they will become our trading partners after Brexit, it would be money well spent.

Professor R G Faulkner Loughborough, Leicestershire

SIR – Before attempts are made to completely destroy Oxfam’s reputation, it is worth remembering that many people around the world depend upon the charity’s work for their very survival. Chris P Hill

Lincoln