Letter: Adoption `choice'

Sir: Yasmin Alibhai Brown is disingenuous ("Secrets, lies and the burning need to discuss adoption", 29 January). To give teenage mothers a real choice about whether to keep their babies or have them adopted, we need to offer them a realistic income upon which they can raise their babies.

The current amount - something like pounds 67 per week - gives teenage mothers a choice to starve their babies (or themselves - lots of research shows that is happening), while going round the bend. Give mothers a proper income - say pounds 200 per week - and then we can talk about choice. It is remarkable how emotionally resilient people can become on an adequate income.

JEAN MOLLOY

London SE13