The Feb. 25 column by Hugh Cortazzi, "Reining in the welfare costs," was of interest. The costs involved in welfare are useful to society in general. Welfare helps keep people off the streets, it helps deliver medical care to everyone, and all of it is money that circulates and creates work for someone.

If there are problems in being able to afford welfare payments, I would suggest that the British government, of whichever color, reduce its military spending to the extent necessary to cover welfare needs. This also might prevent the British from interfering in the affairs of foreign countries and avoid having to spend money to cover the costs associated with military casualties.

Unfortunately Cortazzi does not mention the damage caused to society by war, which seems to be the favorite sport of British Foreign Secretary William Hague.

john bosworth
tokyo

The opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are the writer's own and do not necessarily reflect the policies of The Japan Times.