Sir, While I don’t condone the alleged attack on a member of job centre staff (“Man held after alleged assault at Job Centre” Courier, November 13) I can certainly understand why this may have happened.
In recent years the jobless, disabled and sick have been hounded by government and certain sections of the media as lazy, scroungers and workshy amongst other derogatory terms.
The Tories/Lib Dem government have relentlessly cut benefits and introduced things such as the bedroom tax which target the poorest in society.
In reality most people who become jobless, disabled or sick are hard-working individuals such as myself who have been unfortunate to find themselves in a difficult situation.
I have worked for the best part of 17 years despite having a minor disability and during that time have found myself out of work on three occasions none of them through my own fault.
In my experience of attending Job Centres I find that they offer very little help or advice that would help someone find a job and I often felt like a criminal while attending.
None of the jobs I have been in can be attributed to the Job Centre, most have been through my own efforts.
While I don’t know the person who carried out the alleged attack, or know of their circumstances, I would not be surprised if they were in difficult times like many who are jobless, disabled or sick and when people hit rock bottom they may react in ways which they might not normally do in other circumstances.
This whole situation is a sad and sorry reflection on society in 21st Century Britain.
Alastair Macintyre. 18 Webster Place, Rosyth.
Just the tip of the iceberg
Sir, I noted with interest your article on ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and the figures indicating that children with this mental health condition are better off in Tayside than in most other parts of the country. (Tuesday, November 11).
As the director of Falkland House School in Fife, which specialises in the care and education of boys who require additional support for learning, it was pleasing to see NHS Tayside, Borders and Fife leading the way in the recognition and treatment of ADHD among medical professionals.
ADHD is a commonly misunderstood condition which affects about 5% of school age children, with boys more likely to be affected than girls.
While highlighting the good work that is being undertaken by some health boards, figures demonstrate we are only really treating the tip of the iceberg, with many thousands of children not getting the treatment and help they need.
By identifying children with ADHD at an early stage and ensuring appropriate treatment this will prevent the emotional and behavioural issues associated with this condition becoming worse.
With such behaviour potentially having significant consequences not only for the child, but also for later in life, it is vital we ensure that these individuals receive the correct treatment and help required.
Stuart Jacob. Director, Falkland House, Falkland.
Memories of the “Mally”
Sir, Wing Commander Hugh Malcolm, mentioned in your recent story about the Glenalmond VCs, is remembered, I may say, for a far more prosaic and practical reason than his gallantry under fire.
The Malcolm Clubs, the ubiquitous “Mally” at one time found on many RAF stations, were set up in his memory and were hugely popular.
I don’t know if any are still in use, but it is only 20 yearsor so since I was last in one, in Germany in the 90s.
His VC citation appeared prominently in every “Mally” I ever visited.
“Lest We Forget”.
Laurie Richards. 100 Crail Road, Cellardyke.
Word choice says it all…
Sir, Stuart Wishart’s use of “non-negotiable” (letters, November 12), says all you need to know about religious bigots.
It is surely time that religious extremism Christian, non-Christian or whatever was recognised as a certifiable mental illness and its proponents confined to secure institutions where they could indulge their respective loony-cultisms to their hearts’ content and to squabble amongst themselves without spreading their poison amongst generally decent people.
Grahame Miller. 53 Millgate, Friockheim.
Reason for not disclosing fee?
Sir, Peter Andre coming to Perth to switch the lights on is a frivolous waste of taxpayers’ money which could be spent on badly needed projects elsewhere in the city.
With the success of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow this year it would have been much more appropriate to have someone from a sporting background.
Perth and Kinross Council praised itself for last year’s event, saying how much income was generated from Mark Wright’s costly £7,000 appearance, yet they refuse to say how much Peter Andre’s fee is going to be.
I suspect it will be much higher than Mark Wright’s fee and the very fact they are refusing to divulge this information about how taxpayers’ money is being spent in my opinion, means they know the public would not approve.
Gordon Kennedy. 117 Simpson Square, Perth.