Carriers in conflict

SIR – Rear Admiral Chris Parry (Letters, May 3) expresses concern at the statement by Sir Mark Sedwill, the national security adviser, that Britain’s new carriers “will not be sent into harm’s way unless they are escorted by allied aircraft and warships”.

He forgets, I think, that this is the same security adviser who recommended that Britain should concentrate on cyber warfare at the expense of conventional arms because of – needless to say – financial considerations.

Clearly, these are to the fore of Sir Mark’s thinking even now. Given that they come at £3billion a pop, he certainly won’t want anyone shooting at these brand new ships; and if, in extremis, they really do have to be “sent into harm’s way”, he can still save money by getting allied ships to look after them – or even allied aircraft, apparently, which makes one wonder if he intends our carriers to do without their own, thus saving billions more.

As for constraining Britain’s ability to “undertake a national operation in its own interests at a time and place of strategic choice”, no doubt Sir Mark takes comfort in being unable to imagine any such need ever arising again. Who is Rear Admiral Parry, or indeed any of us, to express concern at such trenchant and logical thinking? Philip J Ashe

Leeds, West Yorkshire