SIR - As usual Phillip Bushill-Matthews (Letters, May 18) fails to answer the points I raised but goes off on a very oblique tangent.

Biofuels may be a good idea but the only way the EU's target will be reached is by obtaining supplies from Third World countries who will chop their rain forests down to plant biofuel-friendly crops. The EU has no plans to check the source of these supplies.

One day's deforestation is equal to the carbon footprint of 8 million people flying from London to New York. Cutting down rain forests also releases more CO2 into the atmosphere so offsetting any potential benefits of biofuels.

Farmers in this country are, of course, pleased by the planned use of biofuels since they will get a better price for their crops and I am very happy for them.

However they cannot meet the demands of the EU's biofuel targets even in the medium term.

Mr Bushill-Matthews also ignores other consequences such as that world reserves of grain will fall and food prices will go up.

In some countries, including the EU and US, subsidies are being given for growing biofuel crops and this is further distorting the market for food crops.

Mr Bushill-Matthews's argument that because EU governments volunteered the idea it must be right is just the claim of politicians though the ages.

Mark starr, Leigh Sinton.