RE (Oxford Mail, August 27, The Issue, Bring back National Service).

Many times I have heard people say bring it back, myself included in the past.

I agree with Jim Lewendon and what he says, in today’s economic climate.

I know Jim fairly well, as I attend the repatriations and I, like others, hold him in very high esteem, as do all the veterans who regularly attend. They are the backbone of this country.

Rather than making cuts in defence spending, the Government should be increasing it.

And rather than National Service, it would be better to have a voluntary recruitment campaign which would help with youth employment in deprived areas.

True, it wouldn’t be everyone’s wish to join, but it would help.

Stop shutting down military installations such as RAF Lyneham where an adverse effect will be felt by businesses there and consequently further unemployment.

This country’s population explosion and the influence of European labour in the past few decades alongside fewer industries have contributed to many of the problems of today.

Conscription sounds good but it’s not the solution and anyway it would have to include all British youth, regardless of race or religion. Can one imagine say for an example, calling up British Muslim youths and after months of training sending them to a war zone such as Afghanistan. This is just incomprehensible.

National Service may be a lot of people’s solution to the youth unemployment, it certainly would instil discipline and respect for authority but there are a whole lot of other ways to solve it.

Unless we can have a government which really does care, things will only get worse and rioting will become more commonplace.

MICHAEL CLARKE Lewell Avenue Old Marston Oxford