I THINK it’s disgusting the amount of foreign aid that is given and the way in which it is managed. I was not surprised to read that consultants are costing the Department for International Development £500 million a year.

In exchange for this vast sum, they manage overseas projects on our behalf and, worryingly, it appears that they are literally throwing funds at causes in order to justify their existence. This is the only department where spending has been ringfenced and is due to rise from £8 billion to £11.5 billion by 2015. How can we cut our wonderful armed forces, police forces, the NHS, lay off lollipop ladies and other essential services when vast amounts of money are wasted abroad?

It is time this country stopped this disturbing waste and catered for our own before looking abroad.

Ken Holder, Hill Street, Risca