Sir, – With the ongoing discussions surrounding the re-negotiation of the UK’s terms of membership of the EU, one wonders if the time is now right to give consideration to the equal access to fishing grounds policy which was traded off in the 1970s for the sake of the UK greater economic good.
This policy has wreaked havoc in our local island and coastal communities and it would seem sensible to give thought to a review of what was an ill-conceived piece of legislation.
The fish-processing and catching industry does not rank high on the scale of European priorities but it plays a crucial role in areas of Scotland which still rank as being considerably fragile.
Scientific evidence would appear to suggest that despite the current legislation, fish stocks are improving thanks to the control and management of fisheries scientists, environmentalists and the industry itself but with little thanks to Brussels.
If politicians (Scottish and national) would like to earn brownie points from our coastal and island communities they could do worse than to pay real attention to such an outdated policy which was offered as a sacrificial lamb 45 years ago.
D.G. McIntyre. 15 Red Row, Limekilns.
British Empire a power for good
Sir, – According to Alan Hinnrichs (December 18) the British Empire “was a force of evil which committed many of the worst crimes in history”.
If we British were so evil, why are most of the countries in our former Empire now participating members of our Commonwealth?
The answer is that the Empire was not so evil as Mr Hinnrichs and others of a leftist persuasion make out.
Canada, New Zealand and Australia are the most obvious examples of former colonies which are still our friends and supporters.
Even the United States would have become a dominion if the appeals of the dying William Pitt the Elder had been listened to.
He and many other enlightened politicians had a dream of a great Empire based on the principles of freedom and democracy for all.
Of course, the growth of Empire was not smooth, organised and faultless.
It developed through ages when slavery was seen as normal and when cruel practices in war and extreme punishments in peace were widespread.
Of all the nations, Britain was the first to introduce a more civilised and humane government for colonies.
If we were so cruel, why the acts of 1807 to 1833 to abolish slavery and emancipate slaves? Why did so many Americans trek north into Canada after they had gained independence?
If the British are such an evil nation, Mr Hinnrichs, why did so many German soldiers and refugees flee westwards at the end of the Second World War to escape the clutches of the Soviet Union?
Does Mr Hinnrichs really think the British are so bad that we were worse than other nations in the past and that we have the distinction of leading the world in evil? Surely not.
George K. McMillan. 5 Mount TaborAvenue, Perth.
Councillor failed to ask questions
Sir, – In the season of goodwill it would be tempting to give Independent Councillor Bryan Poole the benefit of the doubt on his views on library closures.
But instead of giving an independent view on the matter he clearly chose to be the mouthpiece for two bodies.
The first was what is now clearly a Labour-Independent coalition in Fife House. Indeed his vote, and that of fellow Independent Andrew Rodger, was crucial in swinging the case towards the closure of 16 libraries.
The library in Councillor Poole’s Cupar ward was not affected, so perhaps he felt there was no great urgency in terms of his future electoral prospects. He might still have shown some concern for the rural communities elsewhere in Fife, the villages like Kinghorn where a library is central to community activity, and the relatively deprived areas like Abbeyview and Glenwood who need these facilities desperately.
Secondly, he wanted to stress that a business plan drawn up by Fife Cultural Trust was vital for its future plans.
Whatever happened to the idea that a councillor is the community’s representative to the authorities and not the other way around? He could have asked some searching questions about why the trust officials were allowed to move into Iona House, a building which the cash-strapped Fife Council bought earlier this year for a hefty six-figure sum.
He might also have asked why one of the senior trust officials, mainly responsible for drawing up the closure plans, suddenly left its employ right in the middle of the consultation exercise.
These issues are important for the communities affected, just as important as Councillor Poole’s detailed account of why each political group voted the way it did.
Even more important is the prospect of Fife Council presiding over the steady destruction of local communities it once was committed to preserve.
Bob Taylor. 24 Shiel Court, Glenrothes.
Excellent SNP record in office
Sir, – As the media fills up with more SNP-bad rhetoric following publication of the Scottish Government’s draft budget, one policy from John Swinney surely merits a mention because it clearly shows the direction in which he wants our fiscal policy to travel.
Do we think the UK Government would ever propose a 3% supplement on the purchase of second homes over £40,000?
It is unlikely because such a policy is far too progressive for the Eton-groomed Establishment.
The thinking at Holyrood is that if you can afford to buy a second house, you can afford to pay a bit more tax, and what is wrong with that?
The SNP has also delivered nine years of the council tax being frozen, essential services’ budgets being protected or increased, more house building and much, much more.
All this has happened while facing stinging cuts to our pocket change from Westminster.
And all this has happened while working with a small part of the powers a nation needs. Imagine what we could do with full control?
Richard Clark. Craigton, Monikie.
Holyrood a waste of cash
Sir,- Can someone tell me what is the benefit to Scotland of having this devolved talking-shop in Edinburgh?
After some two years of bluster, threat and promise from the SNP as to what it would do if only it had devolved tax-raising powers, we now hear from John Swinney that he proposes to do absolutely nothing.
So this is the brave new world promised by the SNP in return for the millions of taxpayers’ money spent on MSPs’ salaries, pensions, golden goodbyes and expenses to say nothing of the annual costs of maintaining the Parliament buildings and all the support staff employed.
On top of that, we have witnessed the absence of innovation and common sense in tackling policing, healthcare and education strategies.
We have even got to a point where COSLA is criticising the Scottish Government for starving Scotland’s councils of essential funding.
If we add to this growing mountain of dissatisfaction, the recent questions about the doubtful activities of certain SNP politicians and the most recent shambolic performance by Scotland’s Transport Secretary on the Forth Bridge closure and failure to properly designate alternative routes and transport modes, then we have a level of dissatisfaction that I cannot recall ever seeing under the auspices of the Scottish Office of the UK Government.
Derek Farmer. Knightsward Farm, Anstruther.
Help hungry in Britain
Sir, – We are forever being asked to help charities for the hungry and homeless.
Why in a rich country in the 21st century is this allowed to continue? What are our political leaders doing?
They are strutting the world stage giving out foreign aid and flooding the country with refugees.
They should be ashamed that this poverty still exists in a supposedly civilised country and start by looking after our own citizens.
Bob Duncan. 110 Caesar Avenue, Carnoustie.