JAMES Mills (Letters, June 29) is virtually correct in his criticism of the list system for elections to the Scottish Parliament.

Such was intended to add an element of proportionality to what is otherwise a first-past-the-post system but has also been used by some parties and by independents to secure representation on the basis of what are effectively second preferences.

It would help matters if the list system were abolished and the additional members elected on the basis of constituency votes. Even better if all MSPs, except in the Western and Northern Isles, were elected by the Single Transferable Vote (STV) in multi-member constituencies.

In a Scottish context, now that we have general elections every five years for the House of Commons (in 2015, 2020, and so on) and the European Parliament (2014, 2019) consideration should also be given to having five-year spans for the Scottish Parliament and for our local councils so that we have only one major election in any one year.

Finally, we should review how vacancies, caused by death or resignation, in the Scottish Parliament and our local Councils are or are not filled. Margo MacDonald's place as a MSP has been unfilled since her death. What is effectively the Alternative Vote is an unsatisfactory method of filling vacancies in multi-member council wards where the original election was by the Single Transferable Vote (STV).

Dr Alexander S Waugh,

1 Pantoch Gardens, Banchory.