JUST recently the First Minister announced a salary increase of 12 per cent for the civil service. Later that same week the senior economic adviser to the Scottish Government predicted one in 10 private sector job losses in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

With an economic crisis now looming and consumer price inflation and Bank of England base rate at historic lows, the timing of the salary award was insensitive, even if it could be justified.

Currently about one-fifth of the working population is employed in the public sector. Employees there already enjoy higher average salaries, job security and final-salary pensions, which have largely gone in the private sector. However, it is to private sector business we shall be looking to generate the wealth (and pay taxes) to cover not only the cost implications of the Covid-19 crisis but also the lion’s share of current, not to mention future, public sector pensions. The alternative is further government borrowing or a cut back in local services already stretched to the limit – options which are considered unacceptable.

Politicians of all colours are riding on the back of the slogan "we are all in this together". Sadly, actions on the ground reflect inequality.

D Lindsay Walker (Mr), Strachur.

Calmac must step up

I FIND it quite unbelievable that the Arran ferry can only be set up to carry 100 passengers ("Ferry limits mean Arran hotels ‘may not re-open until next year’", Herald Business, June 30).

Ryanair and easyJet can accommodate more than 100 in their planes without using the middle seats – and their passengers have to breathe recycled filtered air and wear masks.

Can Calmac not employ more stewards, allocate seats and make wearing masks a condition of travel?

Bill Batchelor, Anstruther.

THE Covid emergency seems to have pushed the two new ferries being built for CalMac off the news agenda (a good time to bury bad news, perhaps?). Have CMAL and the Scottish Government considered whether the two ships could be towed or transported to a suitable shipyard elsewhere in Europe for completion?

Surely at a time like this getting the ferries completed in the interests of transport connectivity and the economies of the various destinations involved is more important than considerations of national pride?

Scott Simpson, Glasgow G12.

Don’t buy puppies

RECENT news reports about "pedigree puppy shortages" and buyers being bamboozled by money-grubbing breeders should serve as a reminder: adopting a dog from a shelter is a wonderful thing to do, but buying one from a breeder never is.

Since countless friendly, loving dogs of every age, size, character, and breed are waiting in shelters for good homes, there's no good reason to breed more. Every year in the UK, 130,000 dogs are surrendered to shelters, and as many as 20,000 are euthanised because there simply aren't enough homes for them all.

A dog is for life, not just for lockdown. The RSPCA found that nearly 20 per cent of people who buy a puppy no longer have the animal two years later. Before you decide to adopt a dog, be certain that you'll have the time, energy, patience, and money required to provide proper care for life – even when lockdown restrictions have eased and you're back in your normal routine.

If you can honestly say that you're prepared to make that lifelong commitment, there's no need to shop around. Dogs offered for adoption at shelters and by rescue groups offer all the love and companionship we could ever need.

Sascha Camilli, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, London N1.