Perhaps the simplest solution ("Out-of-touch academy is unfit for grant role, says former fellow", 16 April) would be to take from the British Academy the substantial amount of funding it receives from the Government to distribute for research. There is no justifiable reason why those funds were retained by the academy instead of being transferred to the AHRC. The academy could then continue to be the select club that it aspires to be, funded entirely from its members' subscriptions, without taxpayers' subsidy.
Dave Postles, via email.