Sir, – I would like to say what an asset Prince Harry is to the royal family and to the people of this country for the brave and candid way he has spoken about his own mental health issues after the death of his mother.
It must have been exceptionally traumatic for him to lose his mother in the way he did at such an early age and to be constantly scrutinised by the media. It is not surprising that Prince Harry has needed counselling.
What he has done by being open about undergoing counselling has been to chip away at the stigma associated with counselling in a culture of stiff upper lip Britain.
He is a credit to Diana and has many of the strengths such as vulnerability, emotional awareness and compassion that she was rich in and who is still sorely missed by many in this country today.
Gordon Kennedy.
117 Simpson Square,
Perth.
Time to scrap climate act
Sir, – It is not surprising that leading environmental campaigners like Greenpeace, WWF and Friends of the Earth have warned the Government against spending less money from taxpayers to “tackle climate change” since, at present, these groups greatly benefit financially from our money.
However, in view of our tiny proportion of the world’s greenhouse output (less than 3%) climate change is not a logical, prudent or even sensible use of our financial support.
Claims are ludicrous that the major CO2 emitters, like China and the USA, would follow a good example set by the UK, including Scotland.
Acts of monstrous economic self-harm is how US authorities view measures adopted to change the climate on the basis of shaky scientific speculation using computer models which, unsurprisingly, have proved unreliable like other long-term weather forecasts.
It is clear that global weather systems are too complex to allow reliable, accurate prediction.
Means of preventing climate change are unprovable, so why spend more money on these proven failures?
Since our means of influencing climate change amount to no more than virtue signalling and we are very heavily indebted and needing to boost the economy and finances, fruitlessly spending money on climate change is, simply, daft.
Our Climate Change Acts of 2008/9 must be urgently repealed.
(Dr) Charles Wardrop.
111 Viewlands Road West,
Perth.
Culture of confusion
Sir, – While the SNP administration at Perth and Kinross Council tries to have Perth chosen as the UK City of Culture for 2021, their colleagues in the Scottish Parliament are working to ensure Perth will not be part of the UK by then.
Left hand and right hand comes to mind.
Malcolm Parkin.
Gamekeepers Road,
Kinnesswood,
Kinross.
Child policy is reasonable
Sir, – These days, the vast majority of women choose to get pregnant, so it seems reasonable that tax credit for a third child is only for those who get pregnant against their will.
In order to prevent dishonest claims of forced pregnancy, an eight-page form must be completed.
What is wrong with that, especially when every effort will be made to give the mother a fair hearing, with charities and social workers involved?
Instead of taking their concerns to the Government in a responsible way, opposition politicians, especially the SNP, have gone public, not just here but in New York.
What Nicola Sturgeon and her party are doing is spreading confusion and fear in a very vulnerable section of society by continuing their attacks on the UK Government and whipping up a “look at how they Tories treat us, we need independence” narrative.
This “rape clause” has been known about for a year. It is no coincidence it has been raised during an election campaign.
Allan Sutherland.
1 Willow Row,
Stonehaven.
Repugnant way to treat victims
Sir, – Like many, I found the introduction of the so-called rape clause horrifically cruel and immoral, a truly damning indictment on the direction in which the UK Government is currently heading.
The policy came into force as part of welfare reforms limiting claims for child tax credit and universal credit to the first two children.
An exemption requires rape victims to prove their third child was born as a result of non-consensual sex or while in a coercive relationship in order to claim tax credits.
The impact of rape on a woman is truly devastating, no more so than on her mental health, and the way in which this rape clause is to be administered will cause significant psychological harm.
Given that a major reason that survivors of rape do not come forward is a legitimate fear of not being believed, it is unhelpful that the new process will ask women to provide evidence to support their claim.
It forces women to disclose details of their history to professionals for administrative reasons.
This may cause flashbacks, renewed shame and emotional turmoil, and consequently affect how mothers bond with their children.
For those children and adults who have been born of rape, finding this out and managing the identity crisis it can carry significant psychological risks.
To force mothers to remember the circumstances of conception for administrative reasons is unethical and potentially damaging to both the mother and the child, who is ultimately denied a right to privacy.
This is a morally repugnant and barbaric policy and one can only plead with the UK Government to rethink its approach on this vile clause.
Alex Orr.
Flat 2,
77 Leamington Terrace,
Edinburgh.
Vote to protect your pensions
Sir, – UK Chancellor Philip Hammond, in his autumn statement last November, made it clear that further cuts in spending would include scrapping the triple-lock on state pensions after 2020.
This is the mechanism by which, for a number of years, state pensions have been increased each year by whichever is the highest of: average earnings, inflation as measured by the consumer prices index, or 2.5%.
Labour MP Frank Field, chairman of the House of Commons work and pensions committee, has also said recently that “it is time for the triple-lock to be shelved”.
Thus both the Tories and Labour at Westminster are committed to scrapping this protection for the future value of state pensions.
In contrast, the SNP Scottish Government has pledged that, after independence, it will maintain the triple-lock indefinitely.
If pensioners wish to see their pensions protected, they should seriously consider voting yes in the next referendum.
Peter Swain.
Tyme Cottage,
Innerwick.
Dunbar.
