Sir, How much time does a government need to do research into the welfare of armed forces personnel? It astonishes me that the Ministry of Defence do not have facts at their fingertips about these details.
It should be as concerned about what happens to personnel after they leave the services as they should be when they are active (in combat or otherwise). This is a more important issue than the occasional difficulty about where it is appropriate to wear uniform (Courier, June 25).
A variety of charities are concerned with most of the problems services’ personnel encounter after discharge. Perhaps a more co-ordinated effort could be made to tackle inevitable challenges like homelessness, loneliness, jobs, training, psychological adjustment, coping with disability and so on.
We should all support MP Thomas Docherty’s efforts to give all this some statutory backing.
An important point about the recent survey conducted for Lord Ashcroft is that some personnel feel that public sympathy will wane after current missions end. That must not be allowed to happen. It is undignified and unfair that they should feel neglect because of Government dilly-dallying or discrimination by some ill-informed members of the public.
Bob Taylor. 24 Shiel Court, Glenrothes.
Well done for standing strong
Sir, Well done Dundee City councillors for deciding not to support the harbour biomass proposal.
We finally have a group of councillors who can justify having the title of City Fathers.
This has been a contentious issue for Dundee, well highlighted by The Courier who gave their readers the opportunity to look at the implications of this planning application on the future of the town and the population’s health.
It is now in the lap of the gods at the Scottish Government, but whatever happens the council deserves a big thank you.
Loretto Moodie. Drumsturdy Road, Kingennie, Broughty Ferry.
Not really so generous
Sir, I read your recent report on the generosity of windfarm operators. According to what you report, they have donated a whopping £5 million to local communities in Scotland.
While this generosity is no doubt commendable it bears no comparison to the subsidies paid by the local communities for the erection and maintenance of these unsightly monstrosities.
The very communities benefiting from these donations are the ones which may suffer in the long run. Incidentally, I would be obliged if anyone could supply a genuine record of the benefits these windfarms are projected to produce.
Willie Robertson. Grianan, Lynton, Stanley.
Real source of the money
Sir, Scottish Renewables’ latest bit of propaganda, which you published recently under the headline, Windfarms providing £5 million windfall, is grossly misleading.
The first sentence should have read: “Communities across Scotland are now receiving £5 million a year from taxpayers and electricity billpayers via the windfarm operators’ subsidies.”
John A Dorward. 89 Brechin Road, Arbroath.
Argument a lost cause?
Sir, Reading your article, Independent defence puts Scots ‘at risk’, I have to wonder if former Major General Andrew Mackay’s memory has started to fade.
This soldier was made Major General in May 2009 and resigned in September 2009 saying he was increasingly unhappy with equipment shortages and cutbacks particularly in Afghanistan, where the UK death toll in bloody fighting had risen to 216.
We are now in 2013, more soldiers have died, more soldiers have lost their jobs and more cuts are on the way from the Whitehall bosses. Ironically the very next story in your paper was about the next lot of MoD cuts.
It is time that people like the former Major General stopped trying to scare the people of Scotland into voting no and started to tell us what if any benefits there are to staying part of the union. Or is it the case that argument is a lost cause?
Allan Petrie. 49 Blacklock Crescent, Dundee.
Reasons for cinema choice
Sir, Barbara Sturrock asks why I chose to go to Aberfeldy to see the film Populaire when it was on at the DCA (Letters, June 25).
There are two answers. Firstly, it was a beautiful day so I had a nice drive getting there and secondly I wished to visit the recently reopened Birks cinema.
I do also go to the DCA and have seen some excellent films there but as for getting a free coffee before Thursday morning screenings I have to say I have not yet reached that certain age.
George Aimer. 82 Kinghorne Road, Dundee.