SIR: I see Caroline Nokes MP is calling for more funding for the Environment Agency to prevent oil spills such as the recent event on the River Test, and to prosecute offenders.

Readers may not be aware that the Conservative government has cut funding to the Environment Agency by over 50 per cent since 2012, and seen a reduction of over 2,000 staff.

It’s little wonder we are seeing an inability to tackle pollution events - which are becoming more frequent due to climate change.

Perhaps she could raise this with her own colleagues in government and request restoration of effective support for protection of our environment.

Malcolm Hudson,

The Meadows,

Romsey