Confused complaint

The article "Blunkett rejects CVCP complaint" (THES, May 7) is out of date and linguistically confused.

The Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals neither "pleaded" with, nor "complained" to education secretary David Blunkett over his perfectly reasonable request, some months ago, for a report on higher education institutions' implementation of student complaints procedures.

It was simply pointed out that any review of existing procedures was contingent on the outcome of a number of initiatives, including that of the Quality Assurance Agency, that are going on now. By the end of 1999 their effects will be easier to assess, but an interim report will be prepared this summer for Mr Blunkett, which we believe will prove reassuring.

David Anderson-Evans

CVCP policy adviser