Hospital ship

At a time when overseas aid is to be reduced temp or arily to 0.5 per cent of GDP, the opportunity arises to radically review it. Much fun can be had on a rainy afternoon googling UK foreign aid abuse.

The reduction was inevitable.the UK has had the biggest fall in output since 1720; the worst debt since the Second World War in 1945 and a slump worse than most of the 37- nation OE CD as we approach the Brexit cliff edge.

Last year the UK top five recipients were Pakistan, Syria, Ethiopia, Afghanistan and Nigeria. However, we also gave super power China and the fifth richest nation on Ear th India aid. Both have huge military spending and a space programme (the latter said our aid was unwanted).

95 per cent of the largest cities in the world are beside a port, reinforcing the case for building a hospital ship.the old RFA Argus is currently on hurricane watch in the Caribbean but, in 2014, this 1981 ship( with its hospital, doctors, nurses, military, trucks, helicopter sand food) did immense good in West Africa tackling the Ebola outbreak. She must be replaced.

The UK gives one -third of aid to the UN, the rest goes on food, education, medical care, grants for farming etc. Climate change necessitates more disaster relief and a hospital ship would be justified, unlike aid to some of the most corrupt nations on Earth. When not in use, it could be used for trade missions.

JOHN V LLOYD The Maltings, Keith Place,

Inverkeithing