AUTOCRATS never like to be questioned (Small is beautiful – letters, November 2).

In totalitarian societies the usual answer is a knock on the door at midnight. In supposedly democratic societies, such as Malvern Hills, it takes the form of a smear, suggesting that questions cost council-tax payers hundreds of pounds in officer time. For good measure one can also add that questioners are being economical with the truth.

ALISTAIR MACMILLAN, Malvern