13 JUNE 1992, Page 23

Pure ignorance, madam

Sir: I read Hugh Massingberd's tilt at the Upper House (Dull hearts and coronets', 9 May) with interest and a lot of agreement.

But it doesn't have to be so mindlessly anti-female. I wrote to the powers that be and asked why Willie Whitelaw's daughters could not inherit. The answer was, they could, but an extra phrase has to be entered before the monarch signs, stating that heirs of either sex can take the seat.

I wrote to Lord Whitelaw and asked him why he had not done this.

'I didn't know I could,' was his answer. No one had told him.

Lesley Abelela

The Lodge, Conock Manor, Wiltshire