Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir, – Are the costs of ”free personal care” to be met indefinitely by Scottish governments of whatever political colour?
Hamish MacDonnell has asked the question (Comment, September 1). It will need to be answered soon if the cost to the public purse is not to become unbearably large.
There is nothing new in asking questions about the long-run effect on public spending of winter fuel payments, concessionary travel, personal care, free prescriptions and eye tests and so on.
What is lacking are any positive proposals for dealing with the issue. Means testing is the only practical way to deal with the challenge of providing all elderly people with professional help and dignity.
It would be the wrong way to cope with the cost of free travel. Raising the qualifying age to 65 is the only realistic method of keeping down those costs, and the cost of winter fuel payments.
There is little point in reintroducing charges for prescriptions since the majority were entitled to them free.
The current Holyrood government was elected on a promise to continue financing all of this. In the period before an independence referendum they are unlikely to change course.
However, all political parties should be looking ahead to the new challenges. All pensioners pay some tax towards the provision of these services. But placing an unfair burden on younger generations cannot be sustainable and is not fair.
Bob Taylor.24 Shiel Court,Glenrothes.
Jenny is not the only one
Sir, – Cllr Neale Hanvey complains (Letters, September 3) that Jenny Hjul has no faith in the Scots. He clearly hasn’t noticed that his SNP bosses in Edinburgh don’t either.
They don’t trust local councillors to decide about windfarms; they don’t trust them to set the council tax; they don’t trust local policemen and women to run a local police force; or locals to run a fire service; they don’t believe in devolution or localism except where the decisions stop with them.
There’s a right level for every decision. Some should be worldwide, some European, some British, some Scottish, some Fife, some North Queensferry, some household, some individual. Moreover, what’s right at one level today may belong elsewhere tomorrow. That’s why the SNP definition of independence alters by the hour.
If by some chance they win in 2014, they will need to keep adapting their ”independence” to keep up with an evolving world.
The reality would be a very disruptive and expensive separation that wouldn’t ultimately make a huge difference.
Simpler to avoid the disruption and the expense. There are plenty of better things to spend the money on.
Cllr Dave Dempsey.Leader, Fife Council Conservatives,7 Carlingnose Park,North Queensferry.
Hotel was home to Wrens
Sir, – I read with huge pleasure about the refurbishment of the old Tay hotel by Malmaison, and look forward to yet another fine addition to Dundee’s facilities. The building is well known to have been originally Mathers Temperance Hotel, but your readers may be interested to know that during the Second World War the hotel also served another purpose.
Ships are traditionally feminine and are always referred to as ‘she’ (see below) but until recently RN ships were manned by an exclusively male ship’s company.
Unicorn had the unusual distinction during the Second World War of being largely ‘manned’ by the Women’s Royal Naval Service, the ‘Wrens’. These Wrens were partly ship’s company and partly training classes, as Unicorn served as a training school for communication Wrens, and they lived ashore in the Mathers Hotel.
To this day there are displays and photographs aboard explaining Unicorn’s unusual feminine connection and we are always delighted to hear from any of her Wrens who may have more old photographs or recall anecdotes from that era.
The Dundee Wrens formed a lively and active association after the war and although the association officially ”decommissioned” in 2004, their comradeship is such that they continue to meet as organised by the indefatigable Babs Rickman.
Roderick Stewart.The Unicorn Preservation Society.
Unicorn must be preserved
Sir, – I have been following with great interest the correspondence featured in your letters column on the future of HM Frigate Unicorn.
Just after the war I was a sea cadet with the top-rated Dundee Sea Cadet Corp, which at that time was still under the command of the Admiralty and every year we would win the Admiralty Efficiency Pennant.
Besides having our own hall situated just inside the Royal Arch, the Unicorn was used by the sea cadets for training in numerous seaman skills, such as learning knots and splicing.
I even learned to box under the tuition of the great Petty Officer Jim Pope, former heavyweight champion in the Royal Navy. We also learned to row Royal Navy style using the whalers tied up to the Unicorn.
Yes, the Unicorn is very much a part of the Dundee heritage and everything possible should be done to preserve this fine, historic vessel and see that she becomes as famous as the RRS Discovery.
I would urge people to visit the website frigateunicorn.org to learn more about this incredible ship.
In all the letters and interest shown so far I have failed to notice any support given by the Dundee City Council or, for that matter, the Scottish National Party Government in championing the preservation of this incredible ship, whose home has been Dundee for the past 136 years.
Surely they must be able to make some contribution?
George Gavine.The Veldt,Monikie.
Reality of the situation
Sir, – If the British government were a family, they would be earning £60,000 a year and spending £75,000 a year. They would owe £125,000 to banks and credit cards. Swamped by interest payments, they would be unable to pay back any of the capital.
Because of their position, they propose to reduce their spending to £72,000 a year but they don’t want to stop their charitable donations to foreign countries of £1,375 a year.
At some time, they expect to win the National Lottery to cure their problems. This is the reality of our position.
Malcolm Parkin.15 Gamekeepers Road,Kinnesswood,Kinross.
Celebrated all that’s best about the city
Sir, – It was very disappointing to see The Courier’s coverage of Saturday’s events still focused on the battle that didn’t happen, rather than on the free festival of music, entertainment and debate put on by Dundee people of all backgrounds in the city square.
Those put off by previous scaremongering missed a great day that celebrated all that’s best about this city.
The small group of would-be fascists, with their Nazi salutes, were reduced to a pathetic sideshow: their only achievement being to act as a spur to a powerful demonstration of anti-fascist unity.
Sarah Glynn.5B Castle Terrace,Broughty Ferry,Dundee.
His work should be recognised
Sir, – I am both surprised and disappointed that the Scottish Government has in no way sought to honour Professor Higgs now that his boson is confirmed.
Although demanding a technology not yet available for several hundred years, manipulation of this boson will render up power which will make fusion look like feeble candle-light and the creation of an anti-Higgs field, with its fleeting cancellation of mass, will make light speed attainable.
Yes, when Man can stand upon the planets of the stars he will be remembered, but it would be nice if he were honoured now.
Leslie Milligan.18b Myrtlehall Gardens,Dundee.
High praise for staff at Victoria
Sir, – There has been some bad press about the Victoria Hospital recently but I would like to say something positive.
My mother was admitted to Ward 42 three weeks ago and passed away eight days later. During that time she received excellent care and attention from all the staff and was kept clean and comfortable at all times.
Although they were always busy, nothing was too much trouble and they attended to my mother’s needs promptly and with compassion. They also had time for the family, answering questions and reassuring us they were available if my mother needed anything.
I cannot praise them highly enough and it’s a pity only the negative stories make the headlines.
Helen Herd.22 Sutherland Drive,Kinross.
Fed up with silly political games
Sir, – Are others as fed up as I am with current politicians?
No matter what a ruling body north or south of the border puts forward as a solution to a problem, opposition spokesmen rubbish it. There is no attempt whatever to have a good look at the subject and try constructive criticism.
It is ”rubbish” or ”nonsense” or a ”disaster” when, in fact, it might actually be a good idea and worth giving a try.
Surely politics is not all about having diametrically opposite views on everything or just about trying to prove that ”the other lot” are buffoons?
Ian Wheeler.Springfield,Fife.
Get involved: to have your say on these or any other topics, email your letter to letters@thecourier.co.uk or send to Letters Editor, The Courier, 80 Kingsway East, Dundee DD4 8SL. Letters should be accompanied by an address and a daytime telephone number.