Letter: A novelty in the UK

Sir: Michael Romain and Andrew Wigmore ('Why Mr Major needs Ambassador Thatcher, 14 July), reporting a grant from the Thatcher Foundation to Russian archivists, observed that 'the idea of public access to information is a novelty in Russia'.

Perhaps, when Baroness Thatcher is away in Moscow, the foundation would be prepared to make grants to individuals and groups struggling to get the same novelty introduced into the UK.

Yours faithfully,

WOLF McNEIL

Cambridge

14 July