Letter: Reform of the honours system is a mixed blessing

Sir: What you overlook (leading article, 5 March) is that abolish-

ing automatic honours increases the Government's powers of

patronage.

To date politicians have had no power over the receipt of honours by senior civil servants or military officers. Now, however, ministers can dangle the carrot of an award before them as a form of direct or indirect coercion.

Yours sincerely,

ADRIAN JACK

London, EC4

5 March