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It is the Quality Assurance Agency's responsibility to defend its subject reviewers, whose probity has been challenged by the suggestion that they have been operating a "cartel" to give artificially high scores to philosophy departments ("Philosophy scores add to QAA criticism", THES , June 22). We have communicated this view to the QAA. It is in any case in the agency's own interest that confidence is maintained in its processes. We are also very aware that some departments have not yet been assessed and may be concerned that pressure could be exerted to give lower scores than may be justified.

Public confidence must be maintained. We trust the QAA will provide reassurance about the integrity of the system.

Roger Trigg
Chairman

Robin Cameron
Secretary
National Committee for Philosophy