Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir, In a democratic society we should be able to get across our message without fear of intimidation. It is disappointing, therefore, that the mindset of the mob has been deployed against Kenly Windfarm Landscape Protection Group’s peaceful protest against the University of St Andrews proposal to impose a massive windfarm on the communities of Boarhills, Dunino and Kingsbarns.
The banner making our protest was defaced recently with the slogan ”wrong thinking”. Clearly these anti-democratic wreckers consider vandalism as ”right thinking”.
I would like to appeal to the silent majority who support peaceful democracy to echo our disappointment and support our peaceful protest. I hope that the university will be the first amongst them.
John Goodwin.3 Old Edinburgh,Boarhills.
Scotland well ahead of game
Sir, Referring to the England-only Mortgage Indemnity Scheme announced by David Cameron recently George Solley (Some help for business, November 30) says ”it would be encouraging to have a similar scheme north of the border.”
We in Scotland are, in fact, already well ahead of this particular game. Homes for Scotland has been working with the Scottish Government and CML Scotland since June on the development of our own ”MI New Home” initiative which is set to launch in the New Year and drive 95% mortgage lending back into the market here.
Helping to create new home-owning opportunities for those who can demonstrably afford mortgages but are currently excluded from the housing market due to high deposit requirements will not only deliver much needed new housing investment but also create vital jobs and stimulate economic growth.
Thankfully for colleagues in England, Westminster now seems to have woken up to the importance of addressing this fundamental issue, which we have been highlighting for the last two years as the main obstacle to recovery in the housing sector.
Jonathan Fair.Chief Executive,Homes for Scotland.
Pension claim is a distortion
Sir, Stuart Allan’s letter (November 30) gives the impression that NHS employees contribute more to their pension fund than the amount paid to those in receipt of NHS pensions.
He is correct in that there is no specific and defined NHS pension fund payments to current NHS pensioners derives from a combination of payments from current employees and the taxpayer.
For him to claim that payments from current employees is greater than annual payments to NHS pensioners is a gross distortion of reality.
His assumption is based on one-year contributions in and one-year payments out and takes no account of the payments to earlier ex-NHS employees who retired in previous years.
An actuarial analysis of NHS pensions will clearly show that there is a huge deficit when the pensions costs of past retirees is taken into account in addition to current year retirees, rather than simply the one year in and out figures on which Mr Allan bases his argument.
G. M. Lindsay.Whinfield Gardens,Kinross.
Not thought through properly
Sir, In The Courier (Thursday, December 1), Tory MSP Gavin Brown said the reforms were required to make public sector pensions more sustainable.
”The heart of the matter is that we’re living longer,” he said. ”Most adults will spend 40% of their lives in retirement, and it is clear that this has to be paid for.”
By my reckoning, using primary school arithmetic, this would entail ”most adults” living to the age of 108. To retire at age 65 one would have to spend 43 years in retirement if his claim was to be taken seriously.
Is this how the Tories want to convince us of the so-called financial crisis and how to resolve it?
Ian Sansom.116 Stormont Road,Scone,Perth.
He gave away his own money
Sir, Clark Cross (Letters, November 29), is correctly critical of the latest £1 billion that this lady bountiful of a government is giving away for probably no real effect, other than to make David Cameron and Chris Huhne feel good.
Their £9 billion a year charity habit reminds me of the elderly Etonian gentleman on hard times, quite willing to be cold and hungry, for as long as he could be publicly seen to be maintaining his charitable contributions.
The only difference is that it was his own money he was giving away, not that of the unemployed or others on hard times.
Malcolm Parkin.15 Gamekeepers Road,Kinnesswood,Kinross.
Grateful for efficient care
Sir, Frequently we hear of complaints about poor services from the NHS but after my recent stay in Ninewells Hospital I have nothing but praise for the surgeon, Dave Smith, the anaesthetist and all the theatre staff who looked after me during my recent operation.
The efficiency, care and friendliness of the doctors and nurses of Ward 8 at Ninewells was also second to none and they all have my deepest appreciation and thanks.
Mrs Joyce Craig.2 Kinloch Street,Carnoustie.
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.