Scotland Matters Letters

Now that we are into October, does anyone know if this Independence referendum on 19 October is still taking place? I would normally expect some sort of polling card through my door by now, so am wondering what is going on. Then First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced last year that we would be having another one, and no one that I can see has cancelled this or announced otherwise. It would be good to know what the official position is as, like many people, I wouldn’t like to miss out on making my opinion on the matter count again. Victor Clements, Aberfeldy, Perthshire.

An interesting review of Rory Stewart’s book by Joyce McMillan (Scotsman Magazine, 30 September), in which he has many interesting things to say about the poor state of UK politics, many widely shared. As usual, Joyce manages to drag Independence into it, telling us how many are turning to Independence to escape said faults. She speaks of the abuse of executive power in the UK —and what, pray, have we been seeing at Holyrood all these years? Like many of her ilk, she seems to think all is well in Scotland. Indeed, Westminster can teach us a thing or two, eg, the committee system is far superior in London. William Ballantine Bo’ness, West Lothian.

l am at a loss to understand what the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood actually does. It is in the process of outsourcing to “commissioners” functions one might expect parliamentary committees to deal with. I can understand why there would be an information commissioner responsible for freedom of information and also a public services ombudsman as well as the Auditor General, who is pretty much the only person capable of holding the government to account – albeit within a restricted remit. But why would we need more commissions? For victims. Patient safety. Older people. Wellbeing and sustainable development? What would a commissioner for older people actually do? Would he or she be able to prevent councils from rearranging road surfaces and street furniture in such a way that they make streets more perilous for the elderly and infirm? As if these aren’t enough commissioners are now proposed for, among other things, future generations, women, LGBT conversion practices. All of these would cost us millions of pounds at a time when Scotland is predicted to be facing a £1 billion black hole in the public finances, with cuts to public services and possibly tax rises for those who actually pay income tax likely. Why can our politicians, with the armies of civil servants who support them, not consider these matters in committee, calling in expert witnesses as required? I do not consent to my taxes being spent on unnecessary commissioners to absolve MSPs of the need to do their job. Jill Stephenson Edinburgh.

RISHI Sunak has pledged £140million to be paid directly to Scottish local authorities. Doubtless, this will be seen once more by the SNP as ‘Westminster interfering in Scottish politics’. Or perhaps it will be seen by the rest of us as the UK Government ensuring the funds actually go where they are intended. JIM CARRUTHERS, Motherwell, Lanarkshire.

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