Cost of sending sweets to Iraq

Published on 5th April 2007 in Letters

Sir - My son is a Captain in Her Majesty's armed forces serving, for the second time, in Iraq.

Today I put together a food parcel for him, took it to the local post offices and was told that I couldn't send it because it was too big. Imagine my consternation!

When he was serving in Iraq four years ago there was no restriction on sending parcels to him. How times, apart from their efforts over there, change.

When I inquired further I was told that I could send only a small packet up to 2kg in weight, and it would cost £6.50. All I wanted to do was to send my son some biscuits, sweets and orange squash, not the crown jewels. The total cost of the contents would have been less than the cost of sending the parcel. Our sons and daughters are fighting for a debatable cause in an area of increasing tension. Their lives are at stake 24/7 and our government can't even see fit to allow us to send parcels to them without having to pay through the nose, or even being prevented from sending them because 'they are too large'.

I am becoming more and more exasperated with this government and the way they treat not only we taxpayers but also those on the front line risking their lives in a futile confrontation that should never have started.

STEWART PIERCY

Asselby