Scotsman.com - Letters Feed

Church must adhere to laws of state

Sun, 19 May 2013 18:25:54 GMT

ProfESSOR David Fergusson’s attempt to find a “third way” allowing the Church of Scotland to bypass the UK’s employment laws is unlikely to find favour with its implacable traditionalists, as reported at the weekend. In any case, it would surely be a matter of regret if a major church could only survive by operating to lower moral standards than secular society in the matter of gay rights.

‘Free services’

Sun, 19 May 2013 18:24:16 GMT

IN A leader (17 May), The Scotsman says that universally free prescription charges are not a wise use of hard-pressed health funds. But why stop at prescription charges? They are a small part of health spending compared to hospital treatments. Why do we have universally free radiotherapy for prostate cancer? Should that be free for people who can afford to pay for it themselves? Or GP visits, the next most expensive category after hospital treatments?

Grave conscience

Sun, 19 May 2013 18:24:13 GMT

I HAVE just had the pleasure of hearing a senior Conservative MP digging her own political grave. She dignified her attempt to scupper the gay marriage bill (in front of the Commons today) as a matter of conscience, and cited her religious beliefs. It’s odd how a Tory will always grab for the Bible whenever they want to justify an intolerant or oppressive piece of legislation. I just wish they would do the same when dealing with bankers, financiers, the arms trade and the care of the poor and elderly. But if they did, of course, they wouldn’t be Tories. Money changers and temples do spring to mind.

Farage fallout

Sun, 19 May 2013 18:24:12 GMT

I DON’T suppose we should be overly surprised at the ranting hyperbole that charcterises the original arch Unionist spear carrier, Andrew HN Gray (Letters, 18 May).

Solving tax issue

Sun, 19 May 2013 18:24:11 GMT

George Kerevan’s problem of corporate tax avoidance (Business, 18 May) would be easily solved – if the European Union agreed – by abolishing all corporate taxes.

Politics of interest

Sun, 19 May 2013 18:24:10 GMT

The “first televised political head-to-head of the independence debate” is excellently analysed by Alf Young, (Perspective, 18 May). However, it can’t be assumed by the political cognoscenti that many people will have watched and listened.

Bedding down

Sun, 19 May 2013 18:24:07 GMT

the Scottish Government has stated that all future hospital buildings will have single rooms (your report, 18 May). The main reason for this policy is to prevent the spread of infection from one patient to another. This does seem a reasonable policy but there are some problems with single-person wards. Proper supervision of single wards requires extra staff and some patients can be left feeling isolated. A large number of the patients in our hospital are elderly and, sadly, a considerable proportion of these patients may have difficulty in calling for help due to medical problems like poor eyesight or dementia.

Prejudice at work

Sun, 19 May 2013 18:23:44 GMT

Our inbuilt, hardwired disrespect of, and prejudice against, “foreigners” is openly outed in your headline “Ryder Cup volunteers may be housed in old PoW camp for Nazis” (your report, 18 May).

Beach litter

Fri, 17 May 2013 19:12:08 GMT

Thank your for featuring news of the Marine Conservation Society’s beach litter clean-up and survey (your report, 14 May).

Cancer fund cost

Fri, 17 May 2013 19:12:07 GMT

Should charging for NHS prescriptions in Scotland be reintroduced to help fund special schemes like a Cancer Drugs Fund?

Pensions plot

Fri, 17 May 2013 19:12:06 GMT

I am sure my old friend Jim Haynes (Letters, 15 May) will not be surprised to learn he was not the only American living in Edinburgh at that time who was said to be an agent of the Central Intelligence Agency.

Hot air

Fri, 17 May 2013 19:12:06 GMT

I wonder if the government is aware of the misery inflicted on the rural population of this country in regard to wind farms.

Mr Farage has a right to be heard too

Fri, 17 May 2013 19:12:05 GMT

The appalling flash-mob which barracked and swore at Nigel Farage on Thursday (your report, 17 May) was a clear demonstration of one strand of the nationalist grouping that advocates the break-up of the UK.

Amazon’s waste

Fri, 17 May 2013 19:12:05 GMT

The cathedral-like Amazon warehouse pictured in the Scotsman (your report, 18 May) is impressive, but how much of the stock volume represented within is fresh air?

Not our boss

Fri, 17 May 2013 19:12:04 GMT

Donald Trump said: “We will not allow the Scottish Government or any other party to undermine what we have created at Trump International Golf Links…”

Dambusters failed

Fri, 17 May 2013 19:12:04 GMT

With regard to your article, “The true impact of Dambusters revealed after 70 years” (16 May), it is perhaps worth noting that, despite the damage done to the Eder and Möhne dams and the railway bridges, farmland, power stations, etc, by the Dambusters, the raid did not actually achieve its objective, which was to destroy the armaments industry in the Ruhr area.

National disgrace

Thu, 16 May 2013 19:34:29 GMT

Surely the time is long past for the government to have come out with a statement regarding its policy about pot hole-riddled roads. They are a national disgrace.

Big decision

Thu, 16 May 2013 19:34:29 GMT

It is incredibly brave of the NHS to announce that obese people, and those who smoke or drink heavily, will be denied access to IVF treatment (your report, 16 May).

Afghan steel

Thu, 16 May 2013 19:34:21 GMT

Your report from Kabul (International, 16 May) recalls a visit to Afghanistan in 1996 to advise on a health programme.

On your bike

Thu, 16 May 2013 19:34:21 GMT

You quote Boris Johnson, mayor of London, as claiming that Londoners are losing  patience over why they are denied similar fiscal freedoms to those given to devolved governments in Wales and Scotland (your report, 16 May).