Vinita Damodaran and Richard Grove (Soapbox, THES , December 5) misrepresent our societies' meeting to discuss our response to British Academy funding proposals. We are continuing a constructive dialogue with the academy and no final decisions have been taken. We remain confident that the academy's review will recognise the importance of our research programmes.
Alan Lloyd Chairman, Egypt Exploration Society
Paul Bennett Chairman, Society for Libyan Studies
Harriet Crawford Chairman, British School of Archaeology in Iraq
Michael Willis Chairman, Society for South Asian Studies
Jonathan Rigg Committee for South East Asian Studies