I WAS extremely upset to learn of the tragic experiences of the Lloyd family and the death of their daughter, Hannah, who was injured in the bombing of her hotel in Egypt.

I was not surprised by Mrs Lloyds criticism, of our government. British Consulates and Embassies, have a long history of inexplicable ineptness of helping British citizens when abroad and in need. Criticism has been placed at the doors of our Embassies and Consulates, over many years, for their obdurate failures to put themselves out for British citizens in need and no lessons, as usual, are being learned. At times, it seems on these occasions that it is an intrusion on their way of life. Embassies are Plum Postings and Civil Servants, lust after jobs in them.

The attention and help given to Israeli and American citizens, compared with our own citizens, is most marked. "We responded as effectively as we could" is a standard reply by the Foreign Office to any criticism. The Foreign Office is as complacent and as arrogant as the Ministry of Defence regarding our own soldiers, when under criticism. All of whom are public servants, paid by the taxpayer, by the way. I suppose if we had a written constitution the reverse would be true.

The effectively as we could remark, is just not good enough; but don't ask Jack Straw to intervene or investigate anything he doesn't like being disturbed, either. I assume these Embassies get away with it because of their remoteness with very little or no supervision. It seems that to be British abroad, is as big as an embarrassment to the Embassy staff as it is to the British citizen that asks for its help. N'er the Twain shall meet... if the Embassy staff can help it ... this is what particularly Indigenous British means.

D J WATHEN, Alcester Road, Rushford, Salford Priors.