Letter: Honour this story with a few facts

THE furore over the knighthood for Brian Souter and Alex Salmond's alleged role in him gaining this is clear evidence that the 'silly season' is well and truly upon us.

According to the Westminster government the nomination came from the Scottish Government, presented as being controversial by opposition parties. However, this indicates a total lack of understanding of the way in which honours are made.

Reference to the Scottish Government is not to ministers, but to the independent Honours Committee within the Scottish Government, which consists of civil servants and is led by the permanent secretary. This makes recommendations to the UK Cabinet Office Honours Committee system as the honours system is a reserved matter.

It was the SNP Scottish Government's decision in 2007 that ministers would make no nominations for honours, and the system is designed to stop political nominations by being a fully independent process.

The many column inches devoted to this matter are therefore nothing more than the proverbial storm in a teacup.

Alex Orr, Edinburgh