SIR – Thanks to Keith Thomson for his contribution in the foodbank debate, (Letters, October 16). However, I didn’t ask where the support was for people without food. Where has this supposed “need” for food handouts come from (apart from those who refuse work and thus have no benefits)?

An approach I used as a volunteer in the poll tax courts to help non-payers and magistrates decide on liability and level of payments to be made, was to list outgoings on levels of necessity, (say): ‘Essential’ – food, accommodation, secured loans; ‘Important’ – clothes, energy, unsecured loans; and ‘Discretionary’ – newspapers, (public) transport, TV, pocket money...

Note food is ‘essential’, arguably more than accommodation.

One would have to analyse each case to judge whether the need for food aid was absolute. “I can't afford to eat” sounds worse than “I can’t afford to watch TV”.

One of your correspondents says most foodbank users have been disconnected for non-payment of electricity bills. Is that really so and why can’t they afford food?

There are more questions than answers and I’m afraid many on the left aren’t really interested in answers – everything is the Government’s fault, and the present Government from day one, not Labour! I just don’t believe it!

John Hall, Pennithorne Avenue, Baildon