MADAM,

My hearing loss I am advised is age-related, fortunately my long-term memory remains remarkably good. Although I was still in school at that time, I can still remember the Tanganyika Groundnut Scheme starting in 1946. The Government of the day poured £25 million into this ill-conceived and poorly thought out plan which remained until 1951. Similarly there was the Gambian egg and poultry scheme into which millions of pounds was poured, which was also eventually abandoned after huge losses.

It was over sixty years ago that I voted in the General Election of November 1955. I can still remember the rash promises being made by the various political party leaders, of how they were going to built vast numbers of houses for members of the armed forces on being demobbed, and for many who were bombed out of their homes. Today we continue to hear more rash promises of millions being poured into the NHS. All this means is that there will be more money available to be wasted.

The questions I ask are quite simple. Politicians. When will they listen to the voters? When will they ever learn and who is in charge?

W Barnard,

(Usk)