Sir, There is hope of Government legislation to allow women to become Freemen of Cities which already have male Freemen. In recent years it was hoped that a Private Members' Bill could put things right but unfortunately these have fallen through lack of time.

In Oxford, although women apprentices can be nominated as Freemen it is not possible for women to inherit the Freemanship or be nominated by the Lord Mayor. This great anomaly should be put right and the Freemen of the City of Oxford support a change to equality of the sexes.

It may still take some years, but there is now someone in the Department of Communities and Local Government who is interested in hearing from those who would like to see equality in this field.

She is Mrs Maggie Crosby, Department of Communities and Local Government, F8, 5/S, Eland House, Bressenden Place, London, SW1E 5DU. Her telephone is 020 79 44 4254.

She is gathering information and views on the need for the law to be changed and it is hoped that those who support equality will contact her.

Ann Spokes Symonds, Oxford