Sir, – This year marks the 10th anniversary of the ban on smoking in public places.
Most commentators agree that the introduction of the smoking ban by the then Labour and Liberal Democrat administration in Scotland has resulted in significant benefits.
After the ban was introduced, bar workers quickly showed significant improvements in respiratory symptoms and lung function and also reported fewer chest and throat problems.
Subsequent studies have also shown an 18% reduction in the rate of child asthma admissions to hospital each year compared to an increase of 5% per year in the years preceding the smoking legislation.
There has also been a 17% reduction in heart attack admissions to nine Scottish hospitals and this compares with an annual reduction in Scottish admissions for heart attacks of 3% per year in the decade before the ban.
There has also been a marked decline in stroke admissions.
We have also seen a significant reduction in pre-term delivery and babies being born small for gestational age as well as an increase in the proportion of homes with smoking restrictions.
There has been no evidence of smoking shifting from public places into the home and this measure received high public support, even among smokers whose support increased once the legislation was in place.
Of course, there is still further work to be done if we are going to achieve a tobacco-free Scotland by 2034 but Scotland should be proud of what has been achieved and note that other parts of the UK were quick to follow suit.
Councillor Tim Brett.
Woodend Cottage,
Hazelton Walls,
Cupar.
Britain’s poor being ignored
Sir, – The BBC has been begging for our money to help “heroes” and deprived children. It gathered at least £100 million last week.
So where is our money now? How do the poor access this mountain of cash which was given so freely by donors?
Will people living in slum properties, paying exorbitant rents and lacking heating and food get a share?
We are supposed to live in a welfare state so why do our MPs, who are living on real salaries and expenses, turn a blind eye to the plight of the poor?
Tom Black.
83 Lawside Road,
Dundee.
Be cautious over tax rises
Sir, – In a discussion about the prospect of both rent and council tax increases next year, Fife SNP group leader Brian Goodall reminds us that we should bear in mind “overall affordability for people”. As well he might.
Council tax increases, already scheduled for those who live in Band E properties and above, will erode real incomes for people in that category.
Fife Council, based on statements council leader David Ross has made in previous years, will almost certainly raise the tax by 3% for everyone else too, taking advantage of the new flexibility afforded it by the Scottish Government.
That may not seem severe until we consider expected inflation levels next year. The falling level of the pound is going to raise import prices with quite an impact on average household incomes.
For many, a rent increase plus a council tax increase, plus rising food prices, plus frozen or capped pensions and salaries means only on thing; a drop in the standard of living.
Public-sector pension increases are determined by the level of price increases in September of a particular year.
If those increases are low in that month, pension increases the following April will be low too. Price increases, according to the Bank of England governor Mark Carney, are very likely in the second half of 2017. That is why our councillors should be wary about increasing the burden of local taxation in their budgets in February.
Bob Taylor.
24 Shiel Court.
Glenrothes.
Will SNP build more ships?
Sir, – I note the Scottish nationalist MP Douglas Chapman’s concerns that the current British fleet is not large enough to defend Scotland.
I trust that in the light of this statement, the SNP will be making plans to ensure that, in the event of Scotland becoming independent, we will have our own battle fleet, presumably substantially larger than the current British fleet.
Councillor Mac Roberts.
Perth and Kinross Council
Ward One,
Carse of Cowrie.
Wrong time to repair palace
Sir, – I read with interest that the Government intends spending £360 million on what it considers necessary and overdue repairs to Buckingham Palace.
Though I have no issue with preserving the country’s heritage, I do think spending this amount of money at a time of such austerity, and when the Government is slashing the budgets of its own public service departments, is utterly insensitive.
As a former teacher who is in touch with those still in the profession, I consider myself well qualified to report on the chronic lack of investment in today’s current crop of school children.
One book between two, maximum class sizes, buckets to catch water from leaking roofs, and no money for supply teachers to cover for absent staff are common in every school in the land, despite government pledges to ring-fence education budgets.
I also know that what I say will chime with those in medical, police and firefighting occupations.
So, when the Government announces such a colossal spend on just one building, the most galling aspect is the inequality of expenditure.
If money was made so readily available to all sectors which needed it, then fine but that’s far from the case.
It would seem that the frontline professions must make do and limp on while the Government still finds the money to finance its pet projects. Then again, hasn’t that always been the way of it?
Jamie Buchan.
Grove Road,
Broughty Ferry.
Power stills rests with Euro court
Sir, – Article 50 of the Treaty of Lisbon gives any European Union member the right to quit unilaterally but once set in motion, it cannot be stopped except by unanimous consent of all member states.
The leaving country has two years to negotiate an exit deal but every deal must be approved by a qualified majority of EU member states and can be vetoed by the European Parliament.
If after it is triggered the British come to realise it was a mistake, only the European Court of Justice, long the Brexiteer bête noire, can allow us to stop the process. You couldn’t make it up.
Rev Dr John Cameron.
10 Howard Place,
St Andrews.