Letter: Souter debate

I SUSPECT that most people, like me, are less than impressed by the award of knighthoods, which seem to be given to those least worthy of public acclaim.

But I do think that it is a matter of public interest that the circumstances surrounding the nomination of Brian Souter (your reports) for this title should be cleared up.

Alex Salmond or his ministers either recommended him or they didn't, and if the former is the case then Mr Salmond would appear to have deliberately misled us if the UK Cabinet Office is to be believed (Andrew Whittaker's article, 9 August). It cannot be said that Mr Salmond didn't know what the process involved.

As for Sir Angus Grossart's letter suggesting that Souter's award was made in spite of his donation of 1 million to the SNP not because of it as such honours are awarded after independent scrutiny in London and Scotland on the basis of an individual's achievements; well he would say that wouldn't he?

TOM MINOGUE

Victoria Terrace

Dunfermline, Fife