Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir, Leaving aside the arguments as to whether or not we need to have a specified day and symbol of remembrance for the country’s war dead, I am appalled that we rely on charitable collections to provide for the needs of disabled ex-servicemen and the upkeep of war memorials.
Surely in a country that has no hesitation in spending tens of billions of pounds annually on weapons of mass destruction and other military hardware (usually made in the USA) the government could afford to pay the relatively small sum of £30 million to the British Legion to provide free of charge poppies to those who wish to wear them?
Surely, also, when our governments seem so keen on war this is the least they could do? In doing so it would save all of those volunteers having to stand in all kinds of inclement autumn weather with their collection tins?
Our governments can afford any amount of money to kill our enemies but can’t afford to give any money to help the victims of their policies, it would seem.
Tom Minogue.94 Victoria Terrace,Dunfermline.
Insight into SNP EU aspirations
Sir, Far from being racists, I believe that Mr McGovern has highlighted the aspirations of the SNP with regards to the EU.
European law means that the Scottish Government is obliged to pay the fees of students living in non-UK EU countries at a cost of more than £75 million a year in 2009-10 compared to £20 million in 2000-01 when 8,195 EU students came to Scotland.
Although Education Secretary Mike Russell has apparently written to EU commissioners in an attempt to change this law he insists the move to charge students from other parts of the UK is required to secure the financial future of the university sector and maintain free education for Scots.
No mention of abolishing fees for UK students.
The SNP continually uphold Norway as an example of how an independent Scotland would flourish, while omitting to state that Norway is not a member of the EU. This is an insight into the SNP attitude to EU membership in the event of independence involving closer integration and even membership of the Eurozone.
It is further highlighted by the fact that SNP MPs in Westminster abstained from the recent vote for a referendum on the UK’s membership thus helping Parliament to rob Scots on a say for changes or withdrawal from that institution.
D. Milne.Drumsturdy Road,Dundee.
The world out of step with Jim
Sir, Labour’s Jim McGovern is probably quite happy with every other country in the world being independent why not his own? Strange attitude.
Everybody else in the world is out of step bar oor Jim?
Or is it a career thing for Jim?
Ian Lumsden.53 Ravenscraig,Kirkcaldy.
Situation is no longer tenable
Sir, I fully endorse Mr Scott’s suggestion (yesterday’s letters) that the present system, whereby students from the rest of the UK are charged tuition fees while EU students are entitled to free education in Scotland, is no longer tenable. Crucially, it is EU legislation that requires that we do not levy tuition fees on EU students.
Education Secretary Michael Russell has already made it absolutely clear that this system is not sustainable, nor justified.
The Scottish Government is actively investigating ways, within EU law, of introducing a service charge for EU students, as the Irish Republic does.
Scotland must welcome EU students, but they should choose Scotland because our universities are world-beating, not because they are the cheap option. This Scottish Government has consistently argued that education should be based on the ability to learn, not the ability to pay.
I trust that we can agree that the onus is now firmly on others to follow our example and eliminate fees in their jurisdictions, which are a barrier to access and to social mobility.
Joe FitzPatrick MSP,Dundee City West.
Irony about Euro collapse
Sir, Is it not ironic the Eurozone is collapsing due to the failure of socialist-run countries to spend within their means yet the Eurozone approach Communist China, astute capitalists, to bail them out?
Donald Gatt.17 Land Street,Rothes, Moray.
Solution to noisy iPods on buses?
Sir, I have been complaining for months about the intrusive noise coming from iPods on buses. I used to ask folk to turn them down but it was a fruitless exercise as the next day they were booming out again.
I eventually purchased ear defenders which work fine. Having spent 30 years offshore, ear protection was necessary in many areas.
When these iPods produce excessive noise they are causing damage to hearing which might take a few years to be recognised.
Stagecoach say they have issued instruction to their staff to ask folk to turn them down if they can hear them but I’ve noticed none of the staff make the slightest effort in doing so. Because of this I sent in a claim for the cost of the ear protectors I bought and they actually compensated me.
If you don’t want to be disturbed by these iPods then purchase ear protection and bill the bus companies. They might make a better effort when it starts to cost them money.
Brian McSweeney.29 Arbroath Road,Carnoustie.
Get involved: to have your say on these or any other topics, email your letter to letters@thecourier.co.uk or send to Letters Editor, The Courier, 80 Kingsway East, Dundee DD4 8SL.