A Strategic Defence Review is meant to be an exhaustive and thoroughly researched assessment of the nation’s likely military and defence requirements over the next 20 or 30 years, carried out by teams of experienced defence strategists consulting with those directly involved in such matters (Future of air bases unlikely to be settled by review, The Herald, October 15).
What is the point of all this expert work if the final outcome can be drastically altered at the last moment by the intervention of one man, even if he is the Prime Minister? Surely we in Britain have seen enough in recent years of one man using his supreme political authority to impose disastrous military decisions on parliament and the country, even manipulating the available facts and evidence to achieve his will?
Cuts made on the MoD budget might usefully get rid of a few thousand superfluous civil servants and perhaps a few hundred admirals and generals, but would have little effect on current army manpower, supplies or contractual purchasing obligations for at least two years. So it is nonsense for Army chiefs to suggest that these cuts would immediately affect the safety and efficiency of our ground forces in Afghanistan.
Dr Campbell-Roddis (Letters, October 16) claims we need two massive new aircraft carriers to avoid being “relegated well down the pecking order of European powers”. I can’t think of a worse reason -- this is not some macho status symbol game between competing nations, nor should it be a tug-of-war between different branches of our armed forces. Of course I welcome the safeguarding of thousands of shipyard jobs on the Clyde, but it is not the purpose of the MoD or the defence review to provide job security within the defence industries.
The danger now is that the £5 billion cost of building the aircraft carriers (and probably nearer £7bn or £8bn by the time they are finished, judging by past experience) will delay or prevent the orders of the next generation of frigates and destroyers, which would be much more flexible fighting ships for different conflict scenarios, including defending the carriers. And what is the point of having giant aircraft carriers if we can’t afford to buy the American planes for them -- at £100m a time -- and have to put helicopters on them instead?
The whole thing now looks like another typical British botch-up, with blatant political interference and delusions of the lost days of Empire clouding rational thinking and distorting wise decision-making -- with the taxpayers as usual picking up the bill at the end.
Iain A D Mann, Glasgow.
Dr Campbell-Roddis may not have heard of the Sizzler (3M-54E), a Russian anti-ship missile in service with various unfriendly countries. But as Alexander Pope said: “Knowledge doesn’t necessarily require the presence of wisdom.”
Launched subsonically by plane, submarine or by ship over the horizon, the Sizzler speeds up to Mach 2.9 for its final sprint-run to the target, covering the last 15 kilometres in under 20 seconds. The US Navy has not developed a defence against it and most strategists, or at least those who have heard of it, consider it the ultimate weapon for attacking aircraft carriers. A Klub-K variant, which launches from a commercial-appearing shipping container mounted on a merchant vessel, appeared in April this year.
It can appear to be dangerously arrogant, if I may use the learned doctor’s discourteous words, to pontificate about naval strategy.
Michael Hamilton, Kelso.
‘Spend less’ can win race for a 2014 legacy
Your editorial (Glasgow needs to run with the Commonwealth Games baton, October 15) is spot on in recognising that the 2014 Games in Glasgow has the potential to be life-changing for the whole of Scotland. As you suggest, increasing participation in sport, especially by young people, is an important step. But we must do far more than build world-class sporting facilities and clubs. If Glasgow 2014 is to deliver increased levels of physical activity among the population, it is walking and cycling that must increase on a massive scale.
No other Olympic or Commonwealth Games has so far delivered long-lasting physical activity legacy benefits to the population as a whole in the host nation. The Scottish Government aims to change this through its Active Nation programme. This will only be achieved through cooperation across a range of government departments, non-governmental organisations and community groups.
Promoting walking and cycling is one aspect, but will not be enough unless Scotland puts in place the paths infrastructure that facilitates and encourages active, non-motorised travel for work and pleasure.
We might have the best rights of access to land and water of any country but our path networks in, around and between our towns and cities are among the worst. Go to most other European countries to see the hundreds of walkers and cyclists who go about their daily lives, well separated from motor traffic. No wonder Chris Hoy, with three gold medals round his neck in Beijing in 2008, called for more safe cycle routes in Scotland.
In a few weeks we will learn how Scotland’s road construction programme is going to shrink as budget cuts bite. This is the opportunity for less money to be spent more effectively, across more communities, by building many walking and cycling routes instead of a few road schemes. They are doing this in the US as President Obama ends their love affair with oil and recognises that lots more active travel, on foot and by pedal, is central to the nation’s health, environment and lifestyle objectives. Scotland can do the same and rise to the challenge of delivering a world-class legacy.
Dave Morris, Director, Ramblers Scotland, Kingfisher House, Milnathort.
One-pupil school a lesson in extravagance
Shetland Islands Council has been foolish to reopen Papa Stour school for one incomer pupil. Not only would the child get a “better” education by distance learning/video link, it would be at home and not ‘alone’ most of the day, with no school chums to play and interact with. (Pity also the teacher -- if they can get one ...)
The parents would have known there was no school on the island before leaving England (though can hardly be blamed if the council has been such a soft touch), and isn’t the point of living on a remote island to be “self-reliant”?
There can be no “right” to conventional schooling in these circumstances, or indeed to the full range of services being delivered on a plate to those who choose to relocate in this way. The council tax generated will be derisory compared with the cost of supporting those who choose to “opt out” from the mainstream, and we must hope that they have more to offer Scottish taxpayers in return than whittling, knitting, pottery or organic tatties.
The UK has introduced tough skills criteria for prospective immigrants, so the same principle could be applied to those settling in remote parts of Scotland to take advantage of our better social and medical services and quality of life. Freedom of movement cannot be compromised -- up to a point -- but £57,000 a year for one bewildered toddler?
Just say no. The council would do all concerned a favour by rethinking this daft and expensive decision.
David Roche, Blairgowrie.
A plug for sensible socket locations
A thankfully temporary stiff back made me question why most domestic sockets are located just above skirting board level where they can be difficult to access.
In the kitchen they are positioned sensibly -- at the level of the working surface -- and, of course, light switches are at a height where they come to hand easily.
As regards any health and safety obsessions, having to grovel about at ground level to plug and unplug is the problem, particularly for the elderly and the stiff-backed.
Alan Fitzpatrick, Ayrshire.
Edinburgh trams project must be mothballed before more damage is done to the capital
We learn that Edinburgh City Council has defeated a bid by the SNP to halt the shambles that is the trams project.
The public, as both national and council taxpayers, are being required to watch public money being poured down the city drains. To make it worse, not once has there been any glimmer of regret or apology. We cannot know what Bilfiger Berger’s point of view is because the council and Transport In Edinburgh (Tie) have most conveniently, from their point of view, silenced the company with a contractual “gag”.
It must be unlikely that Bilfiger Berger would seek to take on the council and Tie except from a position of considerable strength. This bodes ill for our money, which the council and Tie seem willing to fritter away in a desperate attempt to push through this project.
It is high time that individual councillors acted in accord with their conscience and used their common sense to demand a change of leadership at the council and at Tie. As councillors, they were elected to represent the citizens of Edinburgh and should stop simply voting as directed in party blocks.
The council leadership seems to have totally ignored all the reports that have been circulating and appears determined to spend not only all the money currently allocated, but also to plunge the city deeper into debt by borrowing more large sums. There is no end in sight as no one knows what the final bill may be; it could be near the £750 million suggested a year ago, or it could well top £1 billion -- even more if all the lines are eventually built.
As the city already has £90m to find, even before cuts by central government are announced, surely the council must halt this madness forthwith. The project should be mothballed and restarted when money becomes available.
We must not allow the council to bankrupt Edinburgh’s highly efficient bus service by making it subsidise the failed trams project.
This project has been mismanaged, as have a succession of transport initiatives such as the Central Edinburgh Transport Management plan which, with others, have served only to waste public money, giving no advantage to the citizens of Edinburgh and leaving our roads and pavements neglected.
Allan Alstead, Edinburgh.
Regarding the delays to the Airdrie-Bathgate rolling stock and the solution proffered (Letters, October 14), it should be recalled that the introducton of the “blue trains”, whose anniversary of November 5, 1960 is imminent, was marred by the failures of these self same trains a week or so later. As with the current problem, it had nothing to do with any government whatsover of whatever persuasion.
John Macnab, Falkirk.
I refer to recent correspondence in The Herald and in particular to “Free bus pass is lifeline for many needy people”, Letters, October 16. I have no hesitation in agreeing that this proposition has force. The thrust of my argument is rather against the universality of its application to all over 60 years of age. I believe the scheme is crying out for modification along the following lines. It should not be available to those in gainful employment or those paying the higher rate of income tax, and it should not facilitate what can only be described as days out by organised groups.
Implementation of these measures would exclude those who have no economic need for the scheme and maintain its availability in acceptable form for those in need of the benefits flowing from it.
Ian W Thomson, Lenzie.
The benefits of breaking up the BAA monopoly of airports are questioned by Mike Dooley (Letters, October 16).
In the beginning Glasgow Airport was created with clear ground around: virtually a blank planning sheet. Unfortunately, since then there has been a complete lack of foresight with no signs of it improving under the present management structure.
No designated area has ever been allocated for hotels, and likewise the car-parking arrangements change virtually each time one visits the airport, often with an absence of directions for the exit. The main road into and out from the airport has even been altered as late as this year.
Inside the terminal it is, if anything, worse: advisory signs of differing styles and sizes often in obscure locations and a further redesign of the domestic arrivals lounge with no waiting area for elderly parents awaiting arrival of a flight. Surely someone has been abroad to see how it is done?
Bill Naismith, Drymen.
Never has so much been owned by so few Land ownership is the crux of Scotland’s woe
Your articles about land issues again show the great debt this country owes Andy Wightman in dealing with the most fundamental problem facing democracy, social justice and prosperity (“Great Scots land grab” that could end up in our courts, The Herald, October 16).
What chance is there of a true property-owning democracy or social justice when in a nation of some five million people just 1,550 owners have title to more than half the country? What this ownership pattern represents is a de facto anti-democratic, anti-social justice and anti-entrepreneurial land monopoly which is accruing billions.
If ever there was a reason for the resumption of the Scottish Parliament, this is it.
Ron Greer, Perthshire.
Petition push for independent inquiry to get at the truth of the bombing of Pan Am flight 103
Hillary Clinton’s meddling in UK defence spending made it all the more refreshing to hear Kenny MacAskill declare that he is accountable only to the Holyrood Parliament (Salmond hits back at Senate on Megrahi “misinformation”, The Herald, October 16). Mr MacAskill deserves respect for standing firm throughout the Megrahi affair, upholding the principles of Scots law, and refusing to be bullied by the “might is right” pressure from the United States.
The parliament is a great example which many around the world would benefit from emulating. One of its strengths is its public petitions process, available to individuals and groups who wish to petition parliament. One has been opened by the group Justice For Megrahi, which includes Professor Robert Black, Desmond Tutu, Dr Jim Swire and other British Lockerbie relatives, lawyers, diplomats and aviation security experts. It calls on the parliament to urge the Scottish Government to open an independent inquiry into the conviction of Mr Megrahi for the bombing of Pan Am flight 103.
It is available for signing until October 28 by anyone -- resident in Scotland or not. It can also be signed by text, and I would urge all concerned about what many consider a miscarriage of justice to access the petition via the Scottish Parliament’s website.
The victims’ families, including the Megrahis, need to know the facts about this most terrible tragedy, and they deserve the support of all who care about justice.
Ruth Marr, Stirling.
Sad monoglots maun shaw mair toleration
Our fitba commentators ir fair gettin thair licks frae some o yer correspondents.
The pundits’ non-observance o the Olympian rules o Inglish gremmer, whyle chauvin awa in Scots Inglish wul aye fash thon monoglots.
The lykes o “the boys duin weil” an “eftir the whussel went” demonstrate tradeitional Scots gremmer weys an -- as in Spanish (we can aye learn frae thaim!) -- double negatives hae lang been common in Scots.
Thon sad, ill-leirit monoglots maun shaw mair toleration ower the thrie-fower decades whyle sic Scotticisms is redd out an Scots is yirdit at last.
Reid Moffat, Fawkirk.
