We are very lucky to have a local MP, David Lepper (Letters, November 1), serving on the Defra Select Committee and especially one devoted to looking after the wishes of his constituents who want to buy organically-grown food.

I wonder if Mr Lepper can also explain how only £20 million a year is spent by the Government to encourage organic food producers while £130 million a year is paid to farmers not to grow anything at all - the famous set-aside scheme.

It doesn't make sense while we have to import 70 per cent of organic food from abroad.

-Fiona Train, Marine Parade, Brighton