I FEEL confident in stating that the NHS benefits the entire population of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. I now cast my eyes in the direction of the proposed HS2 Railway development.

This programme will, from available information, benefit a relatively small number of people whose lives are so important that time saving is vital.

However, it will cause massive disruption and potential loss to a great number of people to save about 20 minutes on a journey from Leeds to London. Is such a saving worthwhile?

I would challenge any Government to guarantee that the project will be completed on time and on budget and that only the correct type of snow will fall and that all leaves falling from trees will not bring the railway to a halt. Furthermore, let us not forget all the other reasons for delay. Unless these guarantees can be made there will be no benefit accruing from HS2.

We are given to understand that funding for the NHS is tight but can someone tell me how there are sufficient billions to fund the HS2?

Why are the needs of the entire population being put at risk to benefit a minority?

Put the money from HS2 into the NHS.

Jim Dawson, Haxby.