Times letters: Tariffs, free trade and international allies

Sir, Emma Duncan (“Choose Europe — because we can’t rely on US”, Apr 4) is right that the Nato alliance is over. The dilemma facing non-US members and members of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing group is what secret information they will continue to share with their former ally.
Professor Ian Kunkler
Edinburgh

Sir, Returning to the EU in reaction to US tariffs (letters, Apr 5) could have dangerous consequences. Although our Trident system is operationally independent, US co-operation is crucial. We design and make our nuclear warheads, but the missiles which carry them are manufactured and maintained by Lockheed Martin in America. Our Dreadnought-class submarines rely on US-supplied components. If he were to turn against us, Mr Trump could suspend or stop this support. If our nuclear defence capability is to be maintained, we must ensure that at least a semblance of “the special relationship” survives.
Francis Bown
London E3

Sir, The imposition of a 49 per cent tariff on Cambodian exports is a devastating blow, but not a surprise (“Trump’s tariffs on Cambodia deepen wounds of a scarred country”, world, Apr 3). For years the regime in Phnom Penh has failed to reform the economy or uphold democratic values that support long-term development. This is a wake-up call. In response, the regime must introduce reforms that safeguard low-income borrowers and at-risk workers from rural, small and medium enterprises; invest in a future workforce by modernising the education system; and remove barriers, so that women, who account for nearly half of Cambodia’s labour force, have the same opportunities as men to take up leadership roles.
Mu Sochua
President, Khmer Movement for Democracy

Sir, Given the political and economic nature of the world today, perhaps this is not an appropriate time to encourage small investors to put their money into stocks and shares (“Why this could be your last chance to stash big cash in an Isa”, business, Mar 29; “Global markets in meltdown”, business, Apr 5).
Jon Garvey
Saltburn, North Yorkshire

Labour & quangos

Sir, Patrick Maguire suggests “even [the PM] has struggled to comprehend the scale and inefficiency of the structures he is supposed to rule: a sclerotic civil service … dense thickets of regulation … the quangos” (comment, Apr 4).

No one would question the continuing need for efficiencies and the importance of seizing the opportunities of digitisation and AI to raise productivity. But the civil service does not create quangos or pass regulation. Ministers do. The risk aversion of the civil service derives in many cases from the risk aversion of ministers and a culture in which mistakes can’t be tolerated. Blaming other people for systems and cultures that governments and parliament have set up will not solve the problem.
John Alty
Former permanent secretary, Department for International Trade; London E9

Sir, In over 30 years working in the civil service I found it was the less effective ministers who tended to blame the system. The best ministers displayed three qualities: a clarity of political vision, communicated effectively; the attention to detail necessary to get business done; and courtesy in dealing with civil servants. The civil service rises to such ministers and enjoys serving them. If a minister does not like a quango they can change or abolish it. The idea that there is an unseen machine seeking to obstruct the government’s progress represents sloppy thinking. If Morgan McSweeney is talking about “restoring trust in institutions” that is to be welcomed. Seeking to undermine the institutions of government has not worked in the past and is unlikely to work in future.
Alun Evans
Principal private secretary to education and employment secretary, (1994-98); head of strategic communications, No 10 (1998-2000)

Preventing suicide

Sir, Philip Pirie should be proud of his efforts in achieving a fundamental review of suicide risk assessment (news, Apr 5). My daughter, a talented and high-performing medical student, blighted by years of bipolar disorder, killed herself five years ago. The systemic problem was not the suicide risk assessment, rated as high, which my family learnt of only after her death. It was more the complete failure to communicate the risk to us on the grounds of confidentiality. This might be understandable had she explicitly refused such communication, but she had never been asked. Surely, concerns over confidentiality should be subordinate to engagement with those closest to the patient who may be in the strongest position to offer help? At the very least it would help them in coming to terms with the suicide.
Richard Williams
Consultant physician (ret’d); Hereford

Anti-scam tactic

Sir, I have given my family a code name for me (no, not 007), which is to be used only in an emergency, not in any other contact such as emails, texts or social media (“‘Hi Mum and Dad’ … bye-bye to your cash”, business, Apr 5). In that way I will know that the contact is genuine.
Lindsey Black
Richmond, Surrey

Church tower row

Sir, There have been reports of protests at Askrigg, in the Yorkshire Dales, after the church tower was treated with protective limewash (news, Apr 4). In fact, this is probably returning the church to its original, better-protected state. The idea that churches, castles and other medieval buildings should be bare stone is, I understand, a fairly modern one.

Gruffudd ap Cynan was King of Gwynedd, North Wales, from 1081 until 1137. A biography from the late 11th century celebrates the latter part of his reign as a golden age, when Gwynedd was “bespangled with limewashed churches like the stars in the firmament”. Perhaps people might prefer to think of the tower at Askrigg as a beacon, rather than an eyesore.
Ann Corkett
Bangor, Gwynedd

Sir, There may be a simple solution to the rather startling limewash. In the 1970s the tower of Sherborne Abbey was in urgent need of restoration, which included much refacing of its limestone exterior. The nearby quarry couldn’t produce the original stone, so creamy limestone from Caen was imported. The result was piebald. The solution was many coats of liquid manure. It worked. I hope the residents of Askrigg are prepared to buy a few nose pegs.
The Rev Canon Eric Woods
Vicar of Sherborne, 1993-2020; Sturminster Newton, Dorset

No Easter parade

Sir, The move by the head of Norwood primary to cancel the Easter bonnet parade (news, Apr 5) represents a race to the bottom. Rather than cancelling Easter, Stephanie Mander should be celebrating all the varied beliefs at her school. In 1969 I commanded a troop in Singapore, which in addition to British soldiers included a mix of Malay, Chinese and Indian soldiers. We celebrated Ramadan, Diwali, Wesak and Parinirvana. No Christian soldier needed to do duty over Easter or Christmas as this was done by Indian, Chinese or Malay troops, British soldiers having covered duties during Diwali and Ramadan.
John Young
Lieutenant colonel (ret’d); Richmond, N Yorks

Incomprehensible

Sir, Giles Coren’s list of things he has never understood gladdened my heart as I realise I am not alone in my incomprehension (“Can I get away without understanding tariffs?”, Apr 5). He is not the first to admit bafflement. The Schleswig-Holstein question plagued the great and the good in the 19th century. Lord Palmerston is said to have admitted there were only three people who had ever understood it, “one was the Prince Consort, who is dead, one was a German professor, who has gone mad, and I, who have forgotten all about it”.
Joan Olivier
London SW19

Polite company

Sir, Reading Dr Cornish’s definition of a polite-ism (letter, Apr 5), I smiled ruefully, recalling a naive approach I once took to involve my teenage son in routine chores. “Would you like to clear the dishes tonight, Edward?” was met with an equally polite “No thank you” as he slipped away.
Kate Bennett
Luton, Beds

Smartphone ban

Sir, Understanding the impact of social media and smartphone use on young people is one of the most pressing issues. People are rightfully concerned that young people should be protected from potential harm, and researchers and campaigners have the same goal of making digital technologies and spaces safer. Young people face myriad harms — it is the job of society to help them develop the necessary life skills to negotiate these challenges effectively.

This is a very complicated area of research and we appreciate there will be strong opinions. However, to suggest that an academic expressing uncertainty in the strength of evidence behind individual policies such as phone bans is indicative of bias misses the crux of this issue (“School phone ban ‘unrealistic and perhaps harmful’”, news, Apr 4). Dr Amy Orben is simply representing the current scientific evidence and demonstrating clearly why we need more robust, longitudinal research to enable us to determine causal effects. Dr Orben has been a champion of improving the quality of research for many years and is therefore well placed to carry out this work with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

Scientists do not and should not dictate government policy, but we can play an important role in bringing the best and most up-to-date evidence to bear so that policymakers can make informed decisions. Campaigners, policymakers and researchers should be working together to improve outcomes for young people.

Sarah-Jayne Blakemore, professor of psychology and cognitive neuroscience, University of Cambridge; Peter Etchells, professor of psychology and science communication, Bath Spa University; Sonia Livingstone, professor of social psychology, London School of Economics; Ellen Townsend, professor of Psychology, University of Nottingham; Tim Dalgleish, clinical psychologist, University of Cambridge; Tamsin Ford, professor of child and adolescent psychiatry, University of Cambridge; Matt Lambon Ralph, director, MRC cognition and brain sciences unit, University of Cambridge; Andrew Przybylski, professor of human behaviour and technology, University of Oxford; Jon Simons, professor of cognitive neuroscience, University of Cambridge; Tamar Makin, professor of cognitive neuroscience, University of Cambridge; Deborah Talmi, associate professor, University of Cambridge; David A Ellis, professor of behavioural science, University of Bath; Victoria Goodyear, associate professor in pedagogy in sport, physical activity and health, University of Birmingham; Miranda Pallan, professor of child and adolescent public health, University of Birmingham; Maria Michail, associate professor, University of Birmingham; Netta Weinstein, professor of clinical and social psychology, University of Reading; Camilla Nord, director, mental health neuroscience lab, University of Cambridge; Pasco Fearon, professor of family research, University of Cambridge; Jon Roozenbeek, assistant professor in psychology and security, King’s College London; Tamas Foldes, post-doctoral researcher, Oxford Internet Institute; Linda Kaye, professor of psychology, Edge Hill University; Sarah Garfinkel, professor of cognitive neuroscience, University College London; Margarita Panayiotou, senior lecturer in educational psychology, University of Manchester; Lucy Cheke, professor of experimental psychology, University of Cambridge; Matt Davis, programme leader, hearing and language, University of Cambridge; Kate D Baker, assistant professor of clinical genetics, University of Cambridge; Jonathan Roiser, professor of neuroscience and mental health, University College London; Nicola Clayton, professor of comparative cognition, University of Cambridge; Bob Carlyon, deputy director, MRC cognition and brain sciences unit, University of Cambridge; Uta Frith, emeritus professor of cognitive development, UCL; Nick Ballou, post-doctoral researcher, Oxford Internet Institute; Karen Mansfield, post-doctoral researcher, Oxford Internet Institute; Sabrina Norwood, post-doctoral researcher, Oxford Internet Institute; Thomas Hakman, PhD researcher, University of Oxford; Douglas A Parry, assistant professor of media psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam; Malte Elson, professor of psychology of digitalisation, University of Bern; Jamie Cummins, senior postdoctoral researcher, University of Bern; Tobias Dienlin, professor of empirical communication and media studies, University of Zurich; Chris Ferguson, professor of psychology, Stetson University, Florida; Ian Hussey, senior lecturer in digitalisation of psychology, University of Bern; Candice Odgers, professor of psychology, University of California, Irvine; Matti Vuorre, assistant professor, Tilburg University

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