HOW I agree with Tom Mitchell about responsible citizens having to subsidise single mothers (The Press, December 6).

Only in one respect would I correct him – and that is to assume these scroungers (and there are far too many around) are reckless or stupid. Those faults are human and excusable, but downright promiscuity in order to get a roof over your head and cash in hand (more than £500 I believe is given out) and to bring babies into the world that have no chance whatsoever of a decent childhood, should never be tolerated. Our over-generous social security system not only condones but positively encourages these females to live off the state and bring their unfortunate children up to do the same.

As Tom points out, contraception is freely available, but only used by women with the good sense to limit their families to the benefit of everyone, and these families are the ones that should be first in the queue for housing. I’m afraid that my opinion of the other kind is unprintable.

Heather Causnett, Escrick Park Gardens, Escrick, York.