K HARRIS, of Barnard Castle, has no sympathy for anyone losing their child benefit (HAS, Jan 11).

I receive child benefit for my only child which funds my daughter’s bus fare to school and her lunch every day.

It’s not a lot of money each week but comes in very handy. Gone are the days when you did not get paid for the eldest child or get child benefit at all.

We have worked and paid our taxes. Surely we have to be entitled to some benefit?

I wonder if Mr Harris gratefully receives a pension, pension credits and heating allowance?

Would he be willing to forfeit these allowances as he expects us parents to do?

I appreciate that childless couples do have to make a sacrifice for child benefit.

However, if we all remained childless then there would be no population.

Sharon Johnson, Shildon.