Danger : people
Sir: It is a pity that Michael Watts's exposition of the problems presented by our increasing popu- lation (8 September) is marred by his failure to produce practicable answers. His suggestions are of a depressingly familiar type, in which a solu- tion is provided by other people doing the work and making the sacrifices.
There exists no objective deterrent to the use of family planning -clinics; the deterrents are purely subjective. whether arising from religious or aesthetic convictions, or from apathy. General= practitioners are already so occupied with the treatment of illness that little time is available for- preventive medicine and health education, which take a higher priority than supplementing the ex- cellent work of the FPA. Gynaecology units are already working to capacity in dealing with the increasing number of patients referred by cervical cytology clinics, a commitment which will continue to increase. The additional burdens of running con- traceptive clinics and sterilising healthy women would delay treatment of the sick.
The implications of Mr Watts's remark on society's provision of welfare and education justify an essay, but suffice it to say that schools, health: and welfare services, and family allowances are paid for by the levy of rates and taxes and are not a gift from the state. Whether too much is spent on some services and not enough on others is another matter.
In this era of empiricism and pragmatism, no political party will have the couiage to discon- tinue family allowances, although tax relief, which favours the relatively prosperous and able minority, may be cut .without serious electoral repercussions. Sustained propaganda, particularly directed at young people, may help. Immigration obviously must be reduced and this should be the first step.. The crisis will not be averted by. turning the medical:
profession into an instrument of government policy but will, I suspect, soon be upon us unless we stop conjugating the verb `to produce' as: 'We have a baby.
You have another child,
They breed like rabbits.'
1. C. Spence
Ryvoan, Catrine, Ayrshire
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