SIR - I originally lived in Pakistan. It is a Third World country and a poor one as well.

I am worried about the expanding abuse of drugs all over the world as well as the UK.

Countries like Pakistan can't prevent drug abuse because of lack of resources. They can't afford the modern police systems of Europe and America, and many of their law officers are corrupt.

Drug dealers there are so rich and powerful that they buy off the whole police system of a particular area and carry out their evil deeds without fear.

I have been in this country for nine months. As in Pakistan, I have seen children smoking cannabis and heroin without any fear and the dealers selling these items openly.

I have also heard that this abuse has spread all over the UK.

Have the drug dealers in the UK also become so rich and powerful that they have bought off the police here, too? Or does the Government want the people to become like this?

Can anybody answer these questions?

Maqbod Hussain, Lindley Road, Bradford 5.

SIR - As a student on the BA Hons Photography course at Bradford and Ilkley Community College, I have been taking a series of environmental portraits of "war veterans".

One of them is Les Williamson, who served in the 4th Battalion of the East Yorkshire Regiment with the 8th Army in North Africa. He was taken prisoner and imprisoned at Stalag B37 in Poland for nearly three years.

During our conversation, he mentioned that after basic training in Beverley he spent some time at Clevedon in Somerset. There he met another young soldier from Bradford called Stubbins. Mr Williamson wonders if Mr Stubbins still lives in the Bradford area. If so, he would like to contact him.

If anyone can help, can they please contact me on 01482 216732 and I will pass their message on to Mr Williamson. It would be good if this old soldier could be traced and put in touch with a wartime comrade.

Trevor David Betts, Arundel Close, Hull.

SIR - In the four years since the last General Election, we have seen transport climb the political agenda. Road congestion, rail problems, the fuel crisis, stowaways on trucks, foot and mouth - they have all raised the national awareness of just how very important transport is to us.

Sadly, despite all manner of investigations and reports, White Papers and Royal Commissions, theories, ideas and promises, transport suffers from premier league taxes coupled with third division investment. Industry has to pay a very high price for a low-grade product.

Things must change and the next Government - of whatever colour - must quickly move from planning to spending.

If, in ten years time, we are to have a road and rail transport infrastructure fit to sustain the economy and protect the environment, then it must be paid for. Increased transport investment has to be not just promised but delivered by the Government.

Heather Crocker, regional director, Freight Transport Association, Low Lane, Horsforth.

SIR - I see from the national television news that it costs the taxpayers of this country £800 per week per "asylum seeker" - people who have done absolutely nothing for this country.

Compare that with the pensions the government pay to our senior citizens who have given their all for this country, one way and another, taxed up to the hilt all their lives, bombed in the early forties, worked their fingers to the bone from 14 years of age to 65, after which they are paid the UK pension.

Give the pensioners the £800 per week and let these "asylum seekers" get by on the equivalent of a UK pension.

J Lewis Nicholl, Plumpton Gardens, Wrose.

SIR - The answer to Mrs Susan Watson's query (Letters, May 16) is that former Eastern bloc countries receive about 1,200 million euros in aid from the PHARE programme (1 euro equals 62 pence.).

The money goes to fund infrastructure projects, economic restructuring, human resources and development, environmental and nuclear safety, humanitarian and food aid. The expertise and technology are supplied by companies within the EU where most of the hard cash goes.

This is how development aid works and the benefits in terms of jobs and exports are factors that cannot be quantified in a quid quo pro formula when working out who gets what from the EU budget. How do you quantify three million jobs, for example, which is the spin-off from Britain's membership of the EU?

Britain may well have the world's fourth largest economy but it is the GDP which determines the nation's prosperity. Britain lies tenth in Europe, just behind Italy and a long way behind Luxembourg.

Britain has its rebate, its opt-out from the euro and for a time had an opt-out from the Social Chapter.

In short, Britain decides what it signs up to and a European superstate is not even on the agenda.

Stuart Baker, Place St Michel, Etalle-Chantemell, Belgium.

SIR - Have you always wanted to broaden your horizons, improve your fitness level or help others? I have the perfect way for you to achieve all of these goals and have the time of your life.

Royal Mencap, the UK's leading charity working with people with a learning disability, is organising an 11-day trekking adventure through Chile in March 2002.

Experience spectacular mountain scenery, towering granite peaks and glacial lakes while raising vital funds for people with a learning disability, their families and carers.

Once you've paid a £250 registration fee and raised a minimum sponsorship requirement, we take care of all flights, food and accommodation, and provide you with lots of fundraising support and advice.

Mencap is looking for intrepid trekkers and non-trekkers alike to take up this amazing challenge!

Please call 0845 9777 779 to receive your free Chile Trek pack or write to The Chile Trek, Mencap, FREE-POST, London, EC1B 1AA. You can also e-mail Mencap with your address at events@mencap.org,uk.

Lisa from Steps, c/o Mencap.

SIR - I write regarding your feature in the May 15 edition about the clean-up campaign in Leeds Road.

Pleased as I am that the disgusting state of Leeds Road is being addressed, I am disappointed that the scheme is not being extended to Laisterdyke/Thornbury.

Once again it is the area close to the city centre that gets all the attention while areas within a mile radius are ignored. Keen though Ms Malik is to impress visitors from Leeds, surely the residents deserve some consideration, plus the fact that Thornbury and Laisterdyke is the first area that is reached from Leeds.

I have approached my local councillor about the appalling state of the area in which I live. Any spare land is either used as a dump or built on instead of landscaping to give residents something to lift the spirit.

G Graydon, Nottingham Street, Thornbury.