51¹ú²úÊÓƵ

It is indeed salutary to learn in "UK-style RAE taken on by Italy" (April 13) that officials will be barred from holding a post in a university or research institute. But to be able to "reward only merit and talent", will they be barred if they have a previous allegiances to a university or institute, if they are related to anyone in academe or if they are of a particular political persuasion?

Gillian Ania
Salford 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ