SIR – In the past, the New Year honours, presented to the good and worthy by the Queen, were something to be admired and respected, but it is hard to see how this can be the situation today.

Among those who received honours is Martin Broughton, chairman of British Airways. I have to ask, what has he done to deserve recognition in this way?

Has he made BA the airline of the world? Has he engendered a new relationship with the workforce that is to be a model that all others should aspire to? Has he made fares the cheapest without affecting the quality of the airline?

The answer to these questions is a definite no, and there must be many other questions such as this which would elicit the same answer. So what has he done?

The short answer is nothing – and in effect it devalues the honour to the other recipients.

It seems to me that there are a number of ‘honours’ to be given out, and the powers that be, scrabble around for someone to give them to, after the few that are deserving get theirs.

I suggest that the whole management of honours needs to be overhauled, so as to make it of some value yet again.

A G Goldsbrough, Leeds Road, Ilkley