Letter:Navy can do job of royal yacht

Sir: Does anyone seriously believe that sophisticated foreign businessmen are influenced in their commercial decisions by a few hours' pampering on a royal yacht? Clearly not the Government, or it would have laid the keel of Britannia's successor five years ago to ensure continuity of a vital export resource.

Mr Blair promises no public funds, knowing that in five years from now his bid for a second term will coincide with the launch of the new vessel. By that time Britannia will be long forgotten and Britannia 2 will be a shiny anachronism.

TONMY HAKEN

Wivenhoe, Essex