No sex please, we're overcrowded?

I could not agree more with James Livingstone's view on overcrowding (Letters, 12 March, page 22).

Ray Whitewood, Ashford Borough Council

There may be isolated incidents of deliberate overcrowding in order to get a better home, but even the most optimistic person in this country will not believe that having more children will mean being given a bigger home and better living conditions.

The only 100% sure methods of contraception are sterilisation – which you have to pay for if you want it done during your most fertile years – or no intercourse; and that is before you begin to take in cultural reasons why some people will not want to use contraception or have an abortion.

Is James Livingstone advocating sterilisation or forced abortion for people living in poverty? Or is he saying sex is only for those who can afford another child? Whichever, he should withdraw his comments about people who cannot control their libidos. The amount of sex you have does not directly affect whether or not you get pregnant.