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The article "Brum v-c defends plan to cut up to 200 jobs" ( THES , October 11) fails to mention a success for academics and Birmingham Association of University Teachers.

The pro chancellor, Lord Hannay, recently wrote to me saying:

"The difficulties in student recruitment in chemical sciences appear to have been overcome, for this year at least, with a very healthy undergraduate intake and a staff complement in balance with the number of students".

The BAUT has been arguing for more than a year that establishing a redundancy committee for chemistry was unwarranted. There is clearly no need for further jobs to go and the committee should be disbanded. This is welcome news - at last.

William Edmondson
President
Birmingham Association of University Teachers