Sir, I really feel that the decision by this government to outsource the work of the probation service is a complete waste of money.
This government is only too keen to outsource work recently, including organisations to help people find work when the Job Centre should be doing this.
This is another example of the government not using the resources it has in place in it’s own departments and wasting valuable public money.
Instead of outsourcing the work why do they not overhaul the existing probation service and cut the vast amount of money spent on administration?
My concern is that organisations tendering for the contracts will not have the skills and experience to do the job and will simply be awarded by cost and in turn will put the public at risk by mismanagement of offenders.
Gordon Kennedy. 117 Simpson Square, Perth.
A token PR exercise
Sir, Alastair Darling, the leader of the anti-independence campaign, is conducting a “listening tour” across “every part of Scotland”. But who exactly will the former Chancellor be listening to?
Will he be listening to the 900,000 Scottish households in fuel poverty, the one in four disabled Scots losing their Disability Living Allowance thanks to Westminster cuts, the thousands of Scottish military personnel on the unemployment scrap heap while billions are spent onTrident, or the one in three Glaswegian children who go to bed hungry at night?
Or will he continue to ignore those voices that are a testament to Westminster’s abject failure?
Sadly, my guess is that Mr Darling will do exactly what the No campaign under the slogan “UK OK” has done from the moment of its formation; cast aspersions on Scotland’s capacity for self-government, while claiming that the inequality and injustice that blights contemporary Scotland within the union is somehow “OK”.
Instead of a tokenistic PR exercise, perhaps Mr Darling should explain to Scots why Tory rule from London is preferable to Home Rule from Holyrood.
David Kelly. 17 Highfields, Dunblane.
More bus misery
Sir, Having just read Mr Gall’s letter regarding late buses in Dundee, he should try waiting on a No. 16 going to Perth or Dundee via Errol.
I am sure I speak for many of the folks in our village who constantly are let down with buses either not turning up at all or breaking down.
Last week we waited on the 13.35 from Perth only to be told the bus had broken down in Canal Street and a replacement was coming.
In the meantime, three No 2 city buses passed our stop and not a soul on them, needless to say a replacement never arrived and we waited an hour in the cold and wet until the next bus arrived.
All other Carse villages get a half-hour service, we don’t and phoning to complain does nothing, come on Mr Souter, you can run Scone buses every 10 minutes with decent fancy buses, we get all the rubbish ones.
Sheila Turner. Braeknowe, Errol.
Trained to deal with these calls
Sir, Now that the idea of charging for 999 calls has been withdrawn, perhaps a look at the training and direction given to control room staff would be in order.
A friend of mine worked for several years in a police control room which accepted all 999 calls from the force area. Staff were trained to quickly assess calls and deal effectively with hoax and nuisance calls, thus eliminating any delay in dealing promptly and efficiently with genuine callers.
John McDonald. 14 Rosebery Court, Kirkcaldy.
BB thanks…
Sir, On behalf of the boys and staff of the 1st Carnoustie Boys’ Brigade I would like to thank local residents; churches and businesses; Angus Council and parents and friends of the company for supporting the Christmas Post initiative.
I am pleased to advise that £1,892.88 was raised which will go towards providing the boys of all sections of the company with an ever more challenging and interesting programme.
Neil Russell. Company Captain.
…and Scouts
Sir, Carnoustie Scout Group would like to say a massive thanks to everyone who supported their Christmas Post. To the shops for their free support, to the parents and boys and girls who helped and to the local residents for ‘posting’ their cards to be delivered.
This year was once again a record-breaking year and surpassed all expectations. A donation from the funds raised will be given to Diabetes UK.
Linda Oliphant. Co-ordinator.