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Your editorial was amusingly wrong in suggesting that academics at the London School of Economics have "backed off" from top-up fees in response to pressure from Labour governors. There is no backing off, no U-turn! We are, with the court's agreement, firmly embarked on the introduction of top-up fees for taught postgraduates, backed by scholarships, phasing these in for the 1996 and 1997 entrants. We are also considering whether to extend top-up fees to full-time, three-year, home and EC undergraduates for the 1998 entry.

A working party on fees was established in June with the agreement of both the academic board and the court. It will shortly present its well thought-out proposals for undergraduate top-up fees which enable us to maintain quality while guaranteeing access.

Leslie Hannah

Acting director, LSE