Sir, The inequality within our society is now reaching obscene levels.
On the one hand we have benefit reforms. These will push a further 400,000 children into poverty. Already overstretched food banks will be further strained as more and more people cannot afford to feed themselves.
At the start of this winter it was predicted around 27,000 people will die as a result of fuel poverty. That was before it was known this winter would be the longest on record. Today there are increasing numbers of suicides as desperation makes victims decide they cannot face any more. This will become worse.
To take just one example from the other hand, we have a tax cut for those earning over £150,000 which will put an average of £43,000 in the pockets of around 250,000 people. The 13,000 people earning over £1 million will be better off to the tune of £100,000. Chancellor George Osborne tried to justify this cut by saying the 50% top rate of tax was not worth collecting. It raised something like £2.4 billion that sounds well worth collecting.
The total amount of benefit fraud in the UK each year amounts to only 0.7% of the welfare budget. It is not the huge widespread problem we are led to believe. Tax dodging, however, costs the UK between £160 and £200 billion each year. That is a staggering problem.
Would it therefore not make sense to clamp down on the amount of tax dodging and evasion as it would reap far greater returns?
As things stand, the phrase “we’re all in this together” has a very hollow ring.
Steve Flynn. Westfield Avenue, Cupar.
An important world figure
Sir, I am appalled that, almost uniquely among the British press, The Courier affords Margaret Thatcher’s death little more than a strap-line on the front page (April 9), with all further detail relegated to the minor pages.
I accept she was a divisive character little loved in Scotland, however, your paper’s presentation reeks of cowardice and fear of offending readers that the news of her death be published thus.
Irrespective of her politics she must be recognised, as indeed your editorial admits, as unquestionably one of the most significant world (not just UK) figures of the second half of the last century.
Your paper could so easily have done its duty without opening any political debate by simply publishing a respectful photograph without significant text on the front page.
I can be sure, without resorting to your archives, that no other premier of recent times, most of whom are of much less lasting import, has been treated in such a manner.
Sandy Green. The Old Rectory, Cupar.
Of historical interest
Sir, I write as a Gaelic speaker. There are very few of us in Perthshire, Angus and Fife. However, Gaelic was spoken throughout this area during the formative period of the Scottish kingdom until the 14th century. From then on it became confined to Highland Perthshire and the Braes of Angus. Now it has slipped away almost entirely to the western islands.
It is really unnecessary to add Gaelic to motorway signs and road direction signs. Duplication of names would probably add an element of confusion to the passing motorist. However, it would be of historical, cultural and touristic interest to show the Gaelic form on the entry sign of a town or village, for instance: Pitlochry, Baile Chloichrigh; Dunkeld, Dun Chailleann; Ballintuim, Baile an Tuim; Crieff, Craoibh.
This is specially true of Highland Perthshire, but could apply to towns elsewhere like St Andrews, Cille Rimhinn, or Perth, Peairt. This is our patriotic duty.
The original meaning of “Scot”, a thousand years ago, was a Gaelic speaker to be distinguished from a Welsh (British) or English speaker.
Hamish Robertson. Creag na Sith, Princeland Road, Coupar Angus.
Plastic bag tax is needed here
Sir, I read with interest the articles in The Courier, April 9, regarding charging for plastic carrier bags, and I thought back to the time before the advent of these, when every housewife would automatically take a shopping bag with her, whatever she was going to be buying. I remember some stores supplied paper bags, but I don’t know how good these were.
The practice of charging for plastic bags is quite common in some other countries. I know that it has been normal in Bavaria for a very long time, this was before any environmental issues came into being. I for one consider that the government would be doing the country a huge favour if legislation was brought in to do this here.
June Reid. 12 Findhorn Street, Fintry, Dundee.
How can it be carbon neutral?
Sir, There is considerable statement and comment on the proposed biomass plant in Dundee, emphasising the potential output.
Electricity is relatively easily connected to the national grid, but how is the heat output (enough for three Ninewells Hospitals) to be distributed? To where? And how is this to be charged?
Personally, I cannot see the justification in cutting trees in Canada, transporting them, chipping the timber, compacting it into pellets, more transport, shipping to Dundee, then burning. How can all this be carbon neutral?
Jim Reid. Birkhill.