Sir,- What a topsy-turvy world we live in when it comes to priorities over safeguarding our agriculture and funding for further education.
Since the Scottish Parliament came into being Scotland has accumulated a lot of debt that has had a detrimental effect on the vocational education facilities available.
The First Minister recently announced that under the Scottish Government’s Programme for Government for Malawi as from spring 2017 there will be £10 million per annum International Development Fund in order to tackle poverty and inequalities.
Meanwhile at their annual dinner the SRUC’s new chief executive, Wayne Powell vowed to seek inter-national funding to tackle the world’s problems. Unfortunately the SRUC no longer has any funders and now appears more interested in attracting private investment for research projects.
He has suggested collaborating with the African Development Bank, in which the UK Government has a financial interest and whose focus is in achieving economic outcomes, as a possible partner.
The formation of the SRUC was rather like putting a cuckoo in the nest as it soon swallowed up the colleges’ funding which in turn led to amalgamations and closures with a lot of valuable assets being sold off and real expertise lost.
It is autumn now, the nest is empty and the hosts are no longer able to feed their avaricious guest.
Marion Lang.
Westermost,
Coaltown of Callange,
Ceres.
Survey is an SNP exercise
Sir,- In response to Mr Billy Smith (Letters, October 10) about the politicising of the National Survey, perhaps a few straightforward facts might quell his angst about elderly householders being “helped” to complete the survey “the correct way”.
First, the whole exercise is being funded by the SNP in Edinburgh.
The return address on the survey should point to the group that is conducting it.
By the way, there is nothing to stop any other like-minded political party from carrying out the same exercise if they wish to.
The survey is for information, it is not a referendum, and as for the assumption on Mr Smiths part of coercing the elderly into being “helped” with their response, I would assume that it would not be in the interest of the SNP activists to fiddle with the figures as it could have the opposite affect in the wish of winning a second referendum on Independence for Scotland.
Bob Harper.
63a Pittenweem Rd,
Anstruther Fife.
Well done book festival team
Sir,- Over the last weekend we have enjoyed in Blairgowrie the most excellent Book Festival, created and organised by Bookmark, a locally run group of people headed by my neighbour, Christine Findlay.
All those who visited the festival were treated to the highest level of performance.
For example, we heard the story of Sally Magnusson’s experience of her mother’s dementia, the acute observation of nature by Sir John Lister-Kaye, the illuminating views on religion of Richard Holloway and the sharp and relevant views of James Naughtie.
The whole experience was backed by first-class management, fine premises at the Blairgowrie Community Campus, splendid lighting and sound and more.
The only thing lacking was a vote of thanks to those whose inspiration and hard work produced such an event.
I would be most grateful if you could publish this letter simply to thank every member of the team who took part in the festival.
Such events do not happen without hours of work and preparation.
The welcome by the red-shirted volunteers and the calm efficiency of the whole experience were notable.
Furthermore, every session stared punctually and the intervals afforded time for informal discussion and refreshments from the excellent caterers.
We thank Christine Findlay and all involved for this stimulating weekend and look forward to the next instalment in 2017!
William Macpherson.
Newton Castle,
Blairgowrie.
Heartless driver leaves dying cat
Sir,- Today I was driving along Dunsinane Avenue, past Dovetail Enterprises, where a large gray and white cat had been run over.
I stopped next to another motorist who said the cat had just been hit.
I took the cat in a basket at 11.30am to Parkside vets, but although she was alive, she died shortly after.
This was a large cat on the road going towards Dundee Audi – how could a person have missed seeing it in the road?
Scottish SPCA pay for vet bills of this type and maybe if the cat had been taken to a vet sooner she may have lived.
I was prepared to pay the bill, and I was prepared to take the cat to a vet, so whoever hit this cat – shame on you for driving on, it was someone’s pet and family member.
I did the right thing, and so did Parkside vets – immediate and excellent work, but to no avail.
If it is your cat in the Dryburgh area of Dundee, then get in touch with Parkside Vets on Kings Cross Road.
Ewan Mason.
38 Oxford Street,
Dundee.
In praise of Miss Warrender
Sir,- I would like to state that I welcome the decision by the Scottish Government to ban underground coal gasification (UCG).
This process has never been tried successfully in any country in the world.
Indeed, where it has been tried it has had disastrous consequences and proved an environmental nightmare.
I would like to pay tribute to The Courier and give particular credit to your reporter, Claire Warrender.
If it had not been for Claire bringing the matter to the attention of not just Fife but Scotland just over four years ago, this process might have sneaked in under the radar.
Though many politicians will claim credit for their actions in getting the Scottish Government to ban UCG, this was actually achieved through the sheer hard work and tenacity of Miss Warrender.
When Claire brought this matter to my attention, I had never heard of UCG, but immediately had doubts about the process and the effects it would have on the environment.
As a former miner, no one had ever considered the possible effects of mine water mixing with the pollutants of UCG –especially in Fife, which is a heavily mined area.
Now that the Scottish Government has seen sense and taken UCG out of the moratorium and banned it, I can only hope that they will see sense and take the moratorium off fracking and put a ban on it as well.
Councillor Tom Adams.
Ward 22,
Leven, Kennoway & Largo,
Fife.
Lost sense of public duty
Sir,- In his letter (October 1), Rev Dr John Cameron identifies as the enemies of “social justice and fairness” public servants who, according to him, have lost “their old sense of public duty”.
He points in particular to junior doctors.
I wonder if Dr Cameron is trying to divert attention away from those business people with astronomical salaries and bonuses in the private sector responsible for introducing “the market state where loyal and social responsibility are supplanted by a selfishness driven by profit and personal advantage”.
Their selfish motivation would appear to accord well with Dr Cameron’s own outlook as displayed in his letters.
Gordon Dilworth.
20 Baledmund Road,
Moulin,
Pitlochry.