Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir, – I have to agree with Malcolm Parkin when he declares Scotland’s share of the UK National Debt needs to be explained (How would Scotland cope? Letters, August 1).
He is perfectly correct in his claim that a newly independent Scotland would probably have to take the nearly £100 billion debt the union has burdened it with on independence.
That is a huge sum, especially when compared with the much smaller £30 – 40 billion both Jim Murphy of the Scottish Labour Party and his coalition counterpart admitted would be Scotland’s debt if we had been independent since 1979.
Indeed, between 2005 and 2010, Scotland ran up only £5 billion of debt compared to the UK’s £400 billion in the same time period.
It is time those who oppose independence explained why this huge discrepancy is to the Scottish people’s benefit.
Clearly it is not, but luckily Scots have the chance to get themselves out of the financial hole the union has placed them in by voting for independence in 2014.
Scotland’s much stronger financial position would see it better able to tackle the debt left to it by the UK and eventually achieve the levels of prosperity enjoyed by our Northern European neighbours.
Remaining under the union will only see our financial and economic positions worsen as Westminster’s incompetent policies see debt continue to rise while austerity bites ever deeper.
Stuart Allan. 8 Nelson Street, Dundee.
It’s not the numbers but issues raised
Sir, – David Robertson of SOLAS writes (Letters, August 2), that I complained about special interest groups taking part in the Scottish Government’s consultation on same-sex marriage. I did not. Any person or group has the right to respond to a consultation. My point was that, because of the potential for large organised groups of whatever view to respond to a consultation, it is not the numbers of consultation responses that should influence the Government’s decisions, but the issues and policy points raised in them.
Based on the policy points raised, the Scottish Government has decided to introduce same-sex marriage and at the same time to ensure that every religious group is completely free to decide whether or not to participate or approve. Most people will regard that as a fair and balanced response to the concerns raised.
As far as numbers go, the independent academic study of public opinion on marriage equality is the Scottish Social Attitudes Survey, which found that 61% of Scots support same-sex marriage, with 19% opposed.
Tim Hopkins. Equality Network.
Name is not so important
Sir, – Work is now proceeding well at the new Glenrothes sports and leisure centre at Viewfield in the town. At some point the developers will be asked to put up a sign on the building indicating what it is called. So I suppose the controversy over the name should be settled as soon as possible(Courier, July 31).
A lot of bitterness has been created over whether it should be called after the late councillor Michael Woods. Nearly all of it was related to the inflated egos on both sides of the political divide in the Glenrothes Area Committee.
The name is a relatively minor matter compared to what actually goes on in the new facility. Will it provide access for all the groups who would like to use it? Will the equipment and resources help youngsters who aspire to excellence on the national and international sporting stage?
Will the new building be free from problems like drafts, heating, leakage and so on?
A poll on the name would be an unnecessary and divisive matter. Maybe it would be better for both sides to reach a compromise. The Michael Woods Glenrothes Sports and Leisure Centre sounds fine to me.
Most people will use their own name for the place, anyway. It’s much more important that the new centre gets off to a confident, optimistic start rather than a bruising and unhelpful argument about its official designation.
Bob Taylor. 24 Shiel Court, Glenrothes.
Think of long-term benefits
Sir, – As a former resident of the East Neuk of Fife, I disagree with Allan Chalmers’s view of the rail link to St Andrews. Experience tells us that few travellers are interested in bus connections, however good the vehicles may be and however cheap they are. My local example is the rail-airport connection at East Midlands which was recently withdrawn completely.
Rail is in the ascendant again, no more so than in Scotland. One can easily believe that soon public opinion will curse the day in 1965 that the whole Fife coast service via Anstruther was withdrawn and wish that all of it could be reinstated and not just St Andrews – Leuchars. The economic benefits to the East Neuk would have been really worthwhile.
Let us not be swayed by the immediate price but by the long-term value. You’ll be glad you have a rail link again after it happens. Just ask any of the Welsh Valley lines.
Robert Bracegirdle. 2 Windmill End, Rothley, Leicester.
Melt is a regular phenomenon
Sir, – Can I reassure Alan Hinnrichs that by the time his letter had been published (July 30), the NASA satellite measurements of the ice on Greenland had shown it to have refrozen after a few days of surface melting. According to a Goddard glaciologist, this phenomenon last happened in 1889 and is expected around every 150 years. Hopefully this will help to eliminate his worry about any sea level increase.
GM Lindsay. Whinfield Gardens, Kinross.
Hot car plea
Sir, – May I plead, on behalf of thousands of dogs, to car owners who leave their dogs behind in cars while they go shopping etc. Each year many dogs die trapped inside vehicles parked in sunny conditions when, inside, temperatures soar and no adequate ventilation is provided.
A bit of thought will save doggy lives – and avoid prosecution for the owners.
Bob Smart. 55 Bellevue Gardens, Arbroath.