of what we need? Rocket for waste SIR: I was struck by the juxtaposition of two news items on the front page of the BEN for Thursday, July 25. The first concerned the imminent decision of the Government to place £3.5 billion of arms orders, some of which might go the British Aerospace, Lostock, and the second the threat to operations for August and September in Bolton hospitals, because of lack of cash.

It seems strange that we as a nation are willing to waste money we can't afford, in order to make weapons that we do not need, against enemies that we do not have - and to finance that waste at the expense of the real needs of our people.

To justify such waste on the grounds that it saves jobs (and I don't remember the Government showing a similar concern when it closed down the mining industry) is to avoid serious issues and the possibility of other choices.

There is surely no reason why those employed at British Aerospace should not both keep their jobs and do something socially productive.

M Pittock,

St James's Avenue,

Breightmet, Bolton SIR: I was struck by the juxtaposition of two news items on the front page of BEN for Thursday, July 25.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.