Our readers begin the week discussing biomass energy, the Newburgh turbines, the devolution of corporation tax, the Highland clearances and tax-payer funded “perks” at the BBC.
World can meet biomass wood fuel demands Sir, I have no doubt the figures G. M. Lindsay quotes are accurate when he defends his claims of CO2 production and deforestation resulting from Scotland’s four proposed biomass plants (May 26). However, his claims are still erroneous.
Regarding CO2 production, wood is part of the carbon cycle whereby it stores atmospheric CO2 while alive and releases it on death.
It will release its stored CO2 whether it is left to rot or burned for fuel. Hence it is carbon neutral. Coal only releases CO2 on burning, and therefore adds to atmospheric CO2. I hope Mr Lindsay now understands this.
When he claims probable deforestation, he under estimates the huge scale of both forests and the timber industry. Forests cover some 35 million square kilometres of the planet, while only 3% are managed. From this, the timber industry produces about 2.8 billion cubic metres of usable wood each year.
When you consider that up to 80% of each tree cut down goes to waste, either at source or when processed, it is easy to see where the fuel for Scotland’s biomass plants would come from. Throw in the wood from the many discarded products such as furniture and the fuel demands of the four plants dwindle into insignificance.
Stuart Allan.8 Nelson Street,Dundee.
Turbine silence
Sir, Three wind turbines are proposed and supported here in Newburgh by a tiny minority.
When asked who would decide where their fanciful financial gains might be distributed I was told “a few anonymous men.”
There has been no consultation with the people of the village.
A public debate on the proposal was refused as evidently it would only attract objectors. The proposed site is a pleasant one overlooking the village, but a few people seem determined to push it through but for whose actual gain?
Jock Ferguson.37 High Street,Newburgh.
Give Scotland new tax power
Sir, The recent report by the House of Commons Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, advocating the devolution of corporation tax to the Northern Ireland Executive, makes interesting reading.
In Northern Ireland, experts predicted that a reduction in corporation tax would, after a while, increase revenue and the number of people in well-paid, long-term, sustainable jobs.
Various estimates as to how many jobs would be created if Northern Ireland were to move to a 12.5% rate, range from 64,000 to 90,000 new jobs over 20 years.
One issue, of course, is that of affordability that is, the budget hit that would initially arise if the corporation tax rate is lowered. This can be ameliorated by phasing in the reduction, reducing the rate by, for example, 2.5% each year in a manner similar to the process whereby the UK Government is reducing corporation tax by 1% a year from 28%.
The Treasury’s consultation paper estimated that such a reduction would lead to a reduction in the block grant of £60 million to £90 million per year in Northern Ireland, which is around 0.5% of a £12 billion block grant, a very modest risk for a potentially enormous gain.
It is clear that with the principle of devolving corporation tax to constituent parts of the UK being accepted, a move now supported by UK Government minister Vince Cable, there is little reason for Scotland to be denied the ability to set its own corporation tax.
Alex Orr.Flat 2,77 Leamington Terrace,Edinburgh.
Clearances apology due
Sir, Now that the Queen has acknowledged the wrongs that had been done to Irish people, can we expect any time soon a similar recognition for the ethnic cleansing of the Highlands and Islands during the Clearances?
The evictions lasted for more than 100 years and many of the tyrannical landlords and clan chiefs were sitting members in the House of Commons or the House of Lords.
The expulsion of the people was in many instances perpetrated by landlords who had been knighted by royalty.
My progenitors were evicted and landed in a dense Canadian forest having survived a tempestuous Atlantic voyage. Do we not merit an apology or are we in the eyes of the British establishment less worthy than the Irish?
Donald J. MacLeod.49 Woodcroft Avenue,Bridge of Don.
Cut taxpayer-funded perks
Sir, The Taxpayers’ Alliance has just uncovered some rather disturbing information about the BBC.
In the last three years the BBC have spent more than £2.3 million on private health insurance for staff.
In 2010, the cost for 532 staff was an eye-watering £761,438 which is the equivalent of 5233 TV licences that we are forced to pay.
If private companies wish to pay for private health insurance then that is their prerogative. Cutting costly perks at the BBC would be a quick and painless saving.
How many other taxpayer-funded organisations provide at our expense this perk?
Cancelling all public-sector funded health cover would help to protect frontline services.
This is a great chance for David Cameron to prove that “we are all in this together.”
Clark Cross.138 Springfield Road,Linlithgow.
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