Sir, – The fact that according to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation an additional 700,000 UK children and pensioners have fallen into relative poverty over the past four years is totally unacceptable and must act as a wake-up call to the Tory Government.
Indeed, the charity said it was the first time in 20 years that poverty in these groups had seen sustained rises.
According to the report, since 2013 an extra 300,000 pensioners and 400,000 children are now living in poverty and the “prospects for solving” the problem “currently look worrying”.
Despite the protection of the value of the basic state pension since 2010, Pension Credit – a benefit paid to the poorest pensioners – has not kept pace with rising costs.
Child poverty has also been driven by stagnant wages for low income families and a freeze on benefits and changes to tax credits, which many families, both in and out of work, rely on.
New threats to the poorest households are many and include rising housing costs, higher food and energy bills, debts and not being able to contribute to a pension.
It is a real struggle for many thousands of people every day to make ends meets, and that number is only likely to rise.
Ending the benefits freeze is the single biggest change the Government could make to help those now living in poverty.
It must do so, and do so now, before we push hundreds of thousands more people into the misery of poverty.
Alex Orr.
Leamington Terrace,
Edinburgh.
Bank service is a big let down
Sir, – I would like to heartily concur with your many correspondents in their condemnation of Royal Bank of Scotland.
Online banking is not the same as face-to-face interaction between bank officers and clients.
For my business banking account at RBS, I am forced to use “telephone-banking” for any queries and the result is:
Lengthy wait in call centre queue, being told by recorded message: ‘Your call is important to us….’ (I’m dubious) then being finally answered only to be connected to another queue for the business banking team none of whom have the faintest notion who I am, what I do, or any other qualitative features that should be de-rigueur for any bank/client relationship.
Sorry to say it, but RBS today is a stinker and they should be required to remove “Scotland” from their title and to have the scope of their commercial banking licence reviewed by the Banking Regulator.
Derek Farmer.
Knightsward Farm,
Anstruther.
Bank’s poor performance
Sir, – In previous times I have written about RBS’s current branch performance being well below the standard they maintained in the heady days of managers and accountants.
A waiting time of up to half an hour before reaching a teller, or whatever nomenclature is currently fashionable, is now average.
This performance would undoubtedly turn customers away from branches and it appears the bank has now achieved its apparent target of low branch usage, thereby justifying ever more branch closures.
I feel sorry for people who now live in the areas which have been abandoned by the banks which do not appear to have much regard for, what I imagine , will become their past customers.
A A Bullions.
6 Glencairn Crescent,
Leven.
Same rules should apply
Sir, – Once more politicians have taken a decision which affects all of the population of Scotland – except them.
While we are to be charged a minimum unit price for alcohol, they will, as usual, use tax-payers money to purchase their own.
Cost of living does not affect our MSPs and MPs, they just keep dipping our tax money and call it expenses.
For this to work fairly, politicians must be stopped from claiming for alcohol in super- markets, off-licences or restaurants as well as subsidised bars in the parliament.
When are these people going to live out of their salaries or pensions, the same as we the voters do?
If any of your readers feel the same as me, please will you send an email to your local representative whose details can be found on the internet?
Tom Fowler.
1 Jubilee Court,
Letham.
More chaotic than stable
Sir, – Once more we are witnessing the Tory Government not living up to its promises.
Standing outside Number 10 just after the last General Election the Prime Minister Theresa May made a promise that she would prioritise the need to narrow the social divisions in this country.
She appointed a department to deal with this issue but did nothing to follow it up.
The result is that things have got even worse.
We now have one in five people in this country living in poverty, with an extra half million in the last three years.
Things have got so bad that even the very team set up to address the problem have resigned, apparently due to a lack of support.
She is prioritising the chaos of Brexit, but she must realise that every one of her promises have to be seen to – like the rest of us, all our problems must be dealt with.
She promised a strong and stable government but has instead provided something chaotic and indecisive.
The sooner we separate from them the better.
Alister Rankin.
93 Whyterose Terrace,
Methil.
A space-age solution
Sir, – It’s heart-rending that so many people are forced to sleep rough in freezing weather.
Meanwhile, many others find themselves unable to afford to heat their homes.
Would it be helpful for them to be supplied with space blankets?
At least this would serve to provide some warmth, inside and outside, at no great cost?
James Stevenson.
Drummond Avenue,
Auchterarder.
Dialogue not always easy
Sir, – Shoaib Khan (Courier, December 2) says Islam is a religion of inclusiveness and peace.
Nevertheless, widespread acts of murder and terrorism are being committed by Muslims across Europe and America, not to mention the medieval abomination that is Islamic State in the Middle East.
I do not see the Muslim population taking to the streets to demonstrate their disapproval of these atrocities.
In fact, the only times there were any mass demonstrations were when one Muslim came up from England to murder another Muslim in Glasgow and when the bodies of British soldiers were brought home following their deaths in Afghanistan.
Despite all of this, Mr Khan suggests to us that dialogue is the best way forward.
With whom would he wish us to conduct a dialogue – terrorists and mass murderers who wish to impose Islam on everyone else?
The purpose of dialogue is to achieve a satisfactory outcome for both sides.
We already know what outcome will satisfy the militants.
Muslims have been granted the right to live, work and worship in the Christian west.
Perhaps it is time for them to stop keeping their heads down and disown and identify the violent minority to whom Mr Khan refers.
If they don’t, sceptics might think they have their tacit approval.
George Dobbie.
51 Airlie Street,
Alyth.
Put brakes on developments
Sir, – As a resident of Newburgh in Fife, we are constantly being inundated with new housing proposals.
These come from both local authorities and private builders.
I understand the need for more housing but is there not another solution?
Currently there are proposals for 700 odd houses around our green belt in Newburgh.
Having been born and brought up here I choose to remain here for the small community life.
I know many other residents feel the same way.
The areas earmarked for new development are around the historic Lindores Abbey – a place of great importance and local significance.
The objections will be ignored and they’ll go ahead anyway no doubt, although there are empty properties in the town already.
Keep our villages and small towns just that way.
Wendy Marshall.
Reef Mog,
Newburgh.
