Norway and Denmark—why no demand already?

Sir,—K. J. MacDougall makes so many unbelievable assertions in his letter yesterday I presumed it was wrongly dated and should have been published April 1.

However, his most startling revelation, that the oil-fields the UK currently possess would actually fall in Norwegian and Danish waters, if Scotland was independent, takes some beating.

If true, why are these two nations not banging on the door of the United Nations, demanding this territory be returned to them immediately? Why has this international scandal not been exposed before now? Hopefully, Mr MacDougall has notified the relevant govern- ments about his startling discovery? Or maybe he hasn’t, as it is arrant nonsense.

Whether independent or not, areas have territorial waters. Why else did London see fit to move England’s sea border parallel to Carnoustie, netting 6000 square miles of resource, if it is all simply UK water?

Most of the North Sea is legally established as Scotland’s. A cursory glance at the rig names tells us all we need to know; Piper, Cromarty, Alba, Rob Roy, Hamish, Tartan & Chanter, to name but a few.

But, unconsciously, Mr MacDougall does highlight the solution to our problem and the template: small, independent Norway. As he rightly points out, a proper government should have full control over these issues, just as the SNP demand.

Norway does and has amassed an oil fund worth £174 billion, after an initial investment of £174 million in 1990. Independent Scotland could emulate this and more.

The one correct assertion in Mr MacDougall’s letter was that Alex Salmond was an oil economist for the Royal Bank before he became an elected politician. Therefore, I trust him on this subject and what is best for Scotland, rather than those who rule from Westminster without ever having had a proper job in their life.

Work should be recognised

Sir,—Your report on the falling number of coronary heart disease deaths heralds a positive step towards improving Scotland’s reputation for ill health (Drop in heart disease deaths, April 30). Experts have said that the reduction in fatal heart disease is down to people making positive lifestyle choices, such as giving up smoking or taking regular exercise.

However, what your report fails to recognise is the contribution of the thousands of GPs, working at the heart of every local community in Scotland, towards tackling one of Scotland’s biggest killers.

The quality framework of the new contract focuses on disease management and prevention and plays a considerable part in reducing the number of significant or life-threatening events for patients suffering from coronary heart disease.

BMA Scotland has estimated that by lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels and controlling hypertension more than 1000 cardiovascular events can be prevented within a five-year period. I am therefore disappointed that the contribution of general practice in achieving this health improvement has not been recognised by this government.

It is clear, however, that there is still some way to go to improve outcomes for patients in poorer communities. In these areas there are not enough GPs and for those who do work there, they do not have enough time to spend with each patient. A targeted approach must begin in general practice by actively training and recruiting more GPs to work in these hard-to-reach communities.

Animals suffer unnecessarily

Sir,—At this moment, three million animals are being experimented on in Scotland. The media and the public are denied access and the reason for this is obvious. Those involved do not want the public to see what animals are being subjected to.

There would be an all-out condemnation because the vast majority of the public care for the well-being of animals. Millions of creatures died to prove, for instance, that tobacco causes all sorts of diseases, yet the warnings fall on deaf ears as millions are still puffing their way to an early grave.

It can fairly be assumed, therefore, these animals died unnecessarily. Sir Menzies Campbell’s wife got maximum TV, radio and press publicity to put the case for smoking. If only animals got the same publicity.

The vast majority of disease and illness are down to people’s diets and lifestyles, and after years of ignoring medical opinion they expect animals to suffer so that a cure for their subsequent self-inflicted illnesses can be found.

I know a number of people who have had heart bypass operations who have then totally ignored expert advice from their surgeon to stop smoking. Animals should not suffer in laboratories as a remedy for people’s ignorance.

Better to have recognised area

Sir,—NHS Tayside would do well to take note of the approach of the oil industry as regards smoking. To ban smoking altogether means addicts will be surreptitiously puffing away at the weed and discarding evidence in out-of-the-way locations.

There is established evidence from UK fire services that carelessly discarded smoking materials have been responsible for many a fire. Better to provide a location for addicts to use.

I am a fire safety consultant and a life-long non-smoker who has often envied the enjoyment friends seem to get from a cigarette after a meal.

To establish a ‘smoking clipe’ could well rebound in an unanticipated manner.

Why are bins left unemptied?

Sir,—I found the article, Fines for those who dump dog dirt bags, quite amusing in respect of the Glenrothes area. On Monday evening I went for a walk and every doggy dirt bin I came across was full to overflowing.

If I was a dog owner, I would take the dirt home with me, but what is the point in having the bins, if they are not emptied on a regular basis?

This is another example of Fife Council having no system in place for a regular emptying of the bins.