Sir, I write in response to Iain Cathro’s “No Scottish jobs created” (Letters, September 12).
Perhaps he should focus his wrath on another aspect of “wasteful industry”. One which pollutes our air globally, has us concrete over endless strips of otherwise perfectly good land in the name of convenience and profit, of which not one single item is manufactured in Scotland and is used as a means to penalise Scots by iniquitous fuel taxation . . . the humble motor car.
If any article more than any other represents his arguments it is the motor car.
However, more than this, what Mr Cathro misses is the fact that wind turbines, whilst not huge electricity generators, in fact rake in substantial carbon subsidies from other countries which run carbon-creating technologies (subsidies earned via global carbon taxation policies).
So while Scotland pays peanuts in carbon levies thanks to the wind turbines, we earn substantially by using them . . . provided, of course, those in London aren’t holding onto the earnings, as they have in the past.
Furthermore, contrary to his assertion that no jobs are created, these turbines must be maintained regularly by dedicated local teams of maintenance engineers.
Perhaps Mr Cathro believes cars just maintain themselves, too and service garages are just a figment of his imagination?
J Campbell. 12 Findhorn Place, Dundee.
Not without the facts, Alex
Sir, Re Mr Robert Scott’s letter Honeymoon period over (September 5). He is quite right and we have the usual coterie of emotional Nats in denial. The greatest failing of Mr Salmond and his team is in avoiding to put the facts on the table in relation to what Mr Scott was talking about defence, economics, currency, fiscal management, international policy and so on.
Without these facts, put truthfully, no-one in their right mind is going to vote for independence. We all see the situation in Ireland. The Eurozone is looking worse and the latest debt to GDP statistics for Italy, Spain, Greece and Ireland illustrate a worsening situation. Cyprus is in a very bad way.
Why, in the continuation of world turmoil, would we wish to gamble on an experiment to secede from the UK and become an even smaller fish in the world pond, and more susceptible to global economic and political events?
The Nats hold up Norway as a shining example, but omit to mention that the basic tax rate in Norway is 28%, VAT is 25% and the Norwegian Government runs a huge per-capita welfare budget, easily exceeding that of the UK.
I am all for more devolved powers for Scotland, but break up the UK on such flimsy and grossly selective evidence as we currently have in front of us? Not on your nellie, Mr Salmond. Give us the facts to show that an independent Scotland will be a better place for successive generations than would be the case within the UK which has, after all, provided a decent standard of living for its citizens for very many years.
Derek Farmer. Knightsward Farm, Anstruther.
Research is hindered
Sir, The plight of Billy Connolly is a tragic reminder of what a cruel condition Parkinson’s is. Connolly’s battle will focus public attention on the debilitating condition and hopefully speed up a cure a cure which might have already been found if it was not for hysterical and baseless opposition to stem cell research by an alliance of religious oddballs.
The Catholic church in conjunction with fundamentalist Protestant churches has managed to hinder progress in this field. They have had embryonic stem cell research banned in Germany, Austria and Ireland. They also persuaded George Bush to deny US federal funds for this research.
They claim the right to do this based upon the “morality” of a society from 2000 years ago. The objections of the Catholic Church to stem cell research are no different to Taliban opposition to polio vaccination or Jehovah’s Witness opposition to blood transfusion.
Today, in 21st century Europe, Billy Connolly and others are suffering unnecessarily because of religious dogma and the failure of European governments to stand up to religion.
Alan Hinnrichs. 2 Gillespie Terrace, Dundee.
Owners not “fit for purpose”
Sir, An eight-year-old girl was bitten on the thigh by a Rottweiler and needed hospital treatment in Dundee. Guide dogs are being attacked by dogs. Belatedly, the Scottish Government intends to adopt Westminster’s dangerous dog legislation.
There are well-documented records of dog attacks on children, adults and other dogs. Many owners obviously “not fit for purpose” let their animals out in the morning to do as they will, including fouling, terrifying children and adults.
These problems could be much reduced by insisting that those who wish to live in local authority housing or housing association property do not keep dogs. This coupled with insisting that dogs are kept on the leash in town, would be a quick way to tackle the problem as opposed to costly micro-chipping and dog licences. This is where legislation is needed.
Clark Cross. 138 Springfield Road, Linlithgow.
Not “highway robbery”
Sir, I have to say that I totally disagree with your recent headlines “Bus firm demands ‘fee’ for lost wallet” and “Spot of highway robbery” as I feel sure that the reason Stagecoach have changed their policy is because of The Courier’s involvement.
If my memory serves me correctly, a similar policy was operated by W Alexander, prior to Stagecoach’s existence, and also the police. I am very pleased Mr Adlam’s wallet was recovered, apparently intact, and would have thought that he would have been so pleased to learn it had been found, that he would have been delighted to reward the honest person who ensured the return of his wallet.
No doubt, the wallet also contained credit or debit cards and possibly irreplaceable photographs of family members.
I appreciate in an ideal world everyone should be honest enough to hand over found property but, as we do not live in an ideal world, finders of property are rewarded, usually with the option to refuse or suggest it be given to some charity.
Ian Thomson. Moor Road, Ceres.
Lost property regulations
Sir, There have been some misunderstandings regarding the business of lost property found on buses as reported recently in The Courier.
The handling of lost property by bus companies is embodied in statute the Public Service Vehicles (Lost Property) Regulations, first drafted in 1934 and amended as necessary since that date, mainly with regard to charges applicable.
The regulations apply to all bus companies in the United Kingdom with few exceptions.
The procedures as laid down are there to protect the staff, and the claimants of lost property.
On finding an item, the driver, or other employee, must hand this into the office at his depot. The item is then logged in a register. If known from the lost property, the owner is then contacted.
On collection of the item, a schedule of charges is applicable (Section 8 of the regulations). For normal items such as umbrellas etc there is a small charge and insofar as cash is concerned 10% of value of money, subject to a minimum charge of 50p and a maximum of £20.
It therefore follows that lost property on PSVs has nothing to do with the police and a bus company and any claimant not complying with the requirements of the regulations is technically breaking the law!
Allan T Condie. Kinnoull, Perth.
Where are our own turbines?
Sir, Dundee traffic may be disrupted for the next 14 weeks by the passage of huge wind turbines, landed at Dundee harbour, for onward delivery to Banchory by road on oversized lorries.
To add insult to injury, these turbines are not even manufactured in the UK but are imported from Denmark.
Also not made in the UK, will be those soon to arrive from Norway and Germany.
When can we expect those made in Scotland, that will create the jobs promised by First Minister Alex Salmond?
Malcolm Parkin. 15 Gamekeepers Road, Kinnesswood, Kinross.
Thanks for the laugh, Gordon
Sir, I really appreciated the “comic strip” on page 14 of Saturday’s Courier. Well, to me it was extremely funny.
Gordon Brown lecturing on the safety aspects of old age pensions? It has to be a joke. This is the man who took millions from the pension fund to try to cover the horrendous mistakes he made as Chancellor.
That made us the lowest paid pensioners in the EU, but now he is going to advise us about pulling out of the remnants of a pension fund already nearing exhaustion.
I would love to hear him explain why pensioners living in Finland don’t die from hypothermia but those in Dundee do.
Bill Duthie. 25 St Fillans Road, Dundee.
Omissions from Hillary’s list
Sir, I was delighted to read in Saturday’s Courier Hillary Clinton’s statement: “Every individual around the world, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity or orientation should be able to contribute to their societies and to have the chance to live up to his or her God-given potential”.
It was good to read of her belief in God. However, I am curious as to why she left out age from her list. And in particular why she neglected to mention the human in the womb. Are they not to be allowed to live up to their God-given potential?
David Robertson. Solas CPC. St Peter’s Free Church, Dundee.