51¹ú²úÊÓƵ

I was perplexed by your article "Politician warns Welsh will flock to leave unless alliance shifts" (November 18), about the federal 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Wales. This year's "moves... to allow (member institutions) greater independence" are part of the radical modernising process agreed by the university's governing body - on which representatives of member institutions form the majority group - and result from a recent internal review.

With the implementation of the review's conclusions well under way, it seems strange for the article to conclude that institutions that have supported the modernisations might remain within the 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Wales confederation "despite" those very modernisations.

A. J. Chapman
Senior vice-chancellor
51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Wales