Sir, The UK is the only oil and gas province without a positive policy favouring local content.
Norway, not a member of the EU, has operated such a policy over the past 30 years with great success,as has most oil and gas producing countries.
Rig manufacturers Offshore Group, one of only four rig manufacturers left in the country, has expressed anger that the Treasury granted Norwegian oil company Statoil concessions to develop the Mariner and Bressay fields but did nothing to suggest that local companies should be used.
Norway requires oil companies to use local suppliers for its offshore oil and gas projects.
OG analysis suggests that 209,000 tonnes of fabrication structures have been awarded outside the UK in the past two years.
OG group chairman Dennis Clark has estimated that 10,000 jobs would have been created if contracts has been placed here. And the reason for this tragedy, according to the Treasury, is because “EU rules would not allow it”. Do we really require any more reasons for withdrawing from the EU?
George Cormack. McLauchlan Rise, Aberdour.
Dreadful material
Sir, I lasted only five minutes with Bob Servant, Independent on BBC4 last Wednesday and most of that was because I was interested in seeing scenes in and around Broughty Ferry.
Brian Cox did his valiant best, but he had dreadful material to work with.
Where on earth do the BBC programme-planners get their taste from? Their judgment must be severely affected by a lifetime of catering to the lowest common denominator’s ideas on what constitutes acceptable entertainment.
There must be thousands out there who could have told them after one glance at the script that they and Brian Cox were wasting their time!
Scottish television soaps are generally of very low and corny quality. The last series I thought worth watching was the original version of Dr Finlay’s Casebook!
The kindest thing the BBC could do would be to take the series off our screens and consign it to the dustbin! I’m surprised Brian Cox allowed himself to be associated with it.
George K McMillan. 5 Mount Tabor Avenue, Perth.
Close the loopholes
Sir, Let us hope Mr Cameron succeeds in his war against the multinational tax cheats and the lawyers that find ways to avoid tax; jailing a few of them for conspiracy. Now it is up to Mr Cameron to close the loopholes in the system in the UK to stop firms from abroad transferring our wealth abroad.
Let us also hear from our politicians, the right honourable members, about their tax arrangements. Do they all use accountants to fill in their tax returns?
I wait with baited breath for a reply from them, but I can’t see turkeys voting for Christmas. They devised the system that benefits them and their rich friends.
John George Phimister. 63 St Clair Street, Kirkcaldy.
Cruelty quick action needed
Sir, Bob Smart is right to be appalled by the recent case of animal cruelty at Welton of Creuchies Farm and makes a good point regarding early intervention.
It is vital that anyone with information regarding cruelty to animals contacts the Scottish SPCA or the police.
We responded immediately when this horrendous case was brought to our attention and we were able to investigate and take the appropriate action.
The sooner we receive information, the quicker we can act and prevent animals from suffering.
Brian Cowing. Chief Inspector, Scottish SPCA.
Let’s get the real full title
Sir, Having read the piece in The Courier re the renaming of Kirkcaldy Art Gallery and Museum, I felt obliged to check that the date April 1 did not appear at the top of the page.
Did the good councillors really feel it necessary to include all facilities in the title? If so, then surely the name should have been: Kirkcaldy Galleries, Library, Museum, Art Gallery, Visitor Centre, Cafe and Toilets with a few Car Parking Spaces.
Norman Brown. Thistle Cottage, Cunnoquhie Mill, By Letham, Cupar.
Snowmen to prevent floods
Sir, The Environment Agency are asking us to build snowmen as the compact structures stay cold longer and could help to regulate the flow of water during the thaw. That will mean a tremendous amount of snowmen. What happens when they melt? Will Health and Safety and other “jobsworths” allow people to take on such extraneous tasks?
John McDonald. 14 Rosebery Court, Kirkcaldy.