This morning’s letters to The Courier’s editor cover the council tax freeze, a response to comments about Scotland, public finances, energy policy, a grim economic warning and minimum alcohol pricing.
Infirm paying price for freeze on council tax
Sir,-Finance Secretary John Swinney and his administration at Holyrood make great play about the pegging of council tax since they came to power.
What they fail to mention is that councils are having difficulty sustaining the status quo and are having to introduce or increase charges for services they provide.
I have a letter from Fife Council informing my wife that the charge for community alarms, which were free before the current administration came to power, is to increase from £52 per year to £78.
These alarms (thankfully she has not yet used the service) allow the elderly and infirm to remain independent and live at home.
However, we are finding, along with many others, that there is no such thing as a free lunch with the present administration at Holyrood.
R. H. L. Mulheron.28 Cowgate,Tayport.
Opportunity to fly the flag
Sir,-George K. McMillan (April 1) could not resist taking up cudgels on behalf of Bob Ferguson over the criticism of Flower of Scotland.
This gave him the opportunity, yet again, to mount his soapbox in order to berate the Scottish people, wretched as we are, for all our shortcomings.
Why, oh why, does he not go south of the border to join the anti-Scots brigade? He could fly the flag of St George when he is at it.
Magnus Wylie.14 Gannochy Walk,Perth.
Hitting capitalists where it hurts
Sir,-It is not surprising that the heads of British corporations are against the proposed rise in National Insurance.
They are against any threats to their profits.
It is capitalists like them that got us into the economic mess we are in at the moment and this measure has to be taken to redress that problem.
I wonder what the Tories will do to placate their biggest supporters?
Perhaps more efficient spending of tax-payers’ money, which only means cutbacks in public spending.
Alister Rankin.93 Whyterose Terrace,Methil.
‘Pylon on’ the landscape agony
Sir,-J. Ferrier (April 3) is correct to ask why, in the face of all the evidence, we need new and bigger pylons.
The simple answer is of course that we do not need them it is the power companies and the politicians that require them for their own selfish ends.
Ostensibly, an upgrade of power-cable infrastructure is needed to deliver the power derived from the ever spreading wind turbines and other renewable sources in our environment.
However, the NETA website repeatedly shows that the percentage of UK electricity originating from wind turbines is frequently less than negligible.
Apparently, on March 8 it was zero per cent. When wind turbines are palpably so useless, then we obviously do not need new pylons to transmit the power from them.
Likewise, their uselessness obviates the need to lay out millions of pounds in grants and subsidies to developers and landowners to construct and site them.
Ron Greer.Armoury House,Blair Atholl.
A fitter, leaner nation?
Sir,-Most of what we hear or read is disinformation for political or commercial purposes, and nobody can now distinguish between spin and truth.
Few can be bothered to try. Low turnout at elections also shows disregard for a parliamentary system that has fallen into disrepute.
The fact is that things are now so bad that no political party can hope to avert the forthcoming economic free-fall and we are at the position of every man for himself.
When that becomes clear, there will be upheaval and the UK will undergo vast change.
Certainly it will become a country for the fit but we may also emerge as the nation that used to be admired and trusted worldwide.
Malcolm Parkin.15 Gamekeepers Road,Kinnesswood,Kinross.
Majority to suffer for actions of few
Sir,-Jack Law, chief executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland, states in his letter (April 5) that minimum pricing has worldwide support including many children’s charities, health groups and churches, who understand that the low price for alcohol has a damaging effect on others.
Where exactly is this worldwide support and which other country has this illegal minimum pricing?
The pricing of alcohol does not cause problems. It is the misuse of alcohol that is the problem.
Mr Law is yet another in a line of professionals who have jumped on the bandwagon supporting this policy without being able to give evidence to back up its proposals.
The misuse of any substance, whether it be alcohol or drugs, is bad for any society and as the drugs issue shows, the banning or high pricing of it does not stop those who abuse it from obtaining it.
He also goes on to state that cheap alcohol costs us dear, £3.56 billion in fact, and people are fed up paying the price for the damage inflected on families, communities and society generally.
Within this price, the Scottish Government include the wage bill of policing and healthcare.
Is he saying that if a minimum pricing law comes into effect, he will be supporting a cut in the number of police officers and healthcare workers in order to make the savings that he refers to?
There are already laws in place to deal with binge drinking without punishing the entire nation.
Allan Petrie.109 Blacklock Crescent,Dundee.