Letter: stress accuracy

Contrary to your article (News, THES , November 10), the Health and Safety Executive did not uncover "serious problems with the handling of staff stress at Luton". Rather, the concern was to ensure that "the policy for managing the risks from occupational stress should be reviewed in consultation with employer representatives".

Neither has the university "had serious staffing problems after a series of cuts". There have been no cuts in the past three financial years.

Third, Alfred Vella was not removed as head of department while on sick leave.

Lastly, a decision to conduct a Mori survey of staff opinion as a baseline against which to measure change suggests a rather more progressive, open approach to people management than might be inferred from your wholly negative article.

Dai T. John
Vice-chancellor, University of Luton