SIR - The debate about whether relatives of military personnel serving overseas should have free postage needs to be seen in context.

If we were talking about a conscript' army, such as in the Second World War, or National Service, then we should wholeheartedly support the campaign - they didn't want to be there, so the least the country can do is give them free postage.

But every single soldier, sailor or airman currently serving in the armed forces deliberately chose to follow that career, knowing that it may involve lengthy overseas service and physical risk.

These are not conscripts, they are professional military who have voluntarily chosen their employment conditions.

Many thousands of civilian workers travel the world in all sorts of professions, promoting and supporting their country's interests, but they do not seek state subsidies for their communications back home, so why should the military be any different?

Plucking heartstrings may work with some, but logic dictates otherwise.

Graham Hoyle, Kirkbourne Grove, Baildon