22 MAY 1976, Page 28

Mr Harold Pinter

Mr Harold Pinter has informed us that the parenthetic reference to him by Kenneth Hurren in our issue of 24 April, to the effect that 'he has, I believe, abandoned the practice of actually visiting mental institutions with a tape-recorder' is untrue. He has not visited mental institutions with a taperecorder, and the statement has caused distress and concern to him, his friends and his professional colleagues. It was never our intention that the reference should have such an effect, and the Spectator and Mr Hurren regret the distress and con

cern which has been caused.