Letter: Briefly

WOULD John Major please explain why senior officials, who 'knew of . . . breaches of government embargoes' but did not inform their minister ('Leading British firms flouted Iran arms ban', 30 August), have not been named and dismissed? As an ex-civil servant it appals me that those entrusted to brief ministers should so betray that trust. Civil servants are paid to carry out government policy, not to create their own version.

Denis C Hardwick, London SE23