LETTER : Back to the 18th century with Howard's draconian penal code

Sir: Michael Howard ("The key to our protection", 4 April) now tells us that, under his new proposals, ministers would "have no part to play" in deciding whether to release mandatory lifers.

Can he therefore also tell us why in the past year he has spent thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money arguing before the European Court of Human Rights that it is essential for ministers to keep the decision-making power over mandatory lifers and not leave it to the Parole Board.

Nuala Mole

Director

The Aire Centre

London SW2