SIR, – I welcome Alex Salmond’s efforts to end the throwaway culture in Scotland (the Press and Journal, July 29), but could he please pass a Scottish law that prevents Europe from forcing our Scottish fishermen to throw top-quality valuable fish back into the sea dead?
This plan would focus transforming waste into a valuable resource; it would generate valuable protein food to feed our nation with a value of over £100million a year.
This fish could be sold to Scottish processors and help to maintain and protect jobs with an opportunity to create further jobs.
Using waste as a resource would deliver great benefit to our fishing communities and help to promote a thriving fishing industry, with no downside to sustainable management.
I do not think you would find anyone in Scotland who would argue against such a law.
Andrew Charles,
19 Crombie Road,
Torry, Aberdeen.
SIR, – I read with dismay your story (July 26) stating that Grampian Chief Constable Colin McKerracher was to receive a £72,000 “performance-related” bonus.
That Aberdeen City Council, through the Grampian Joint Police Board, would make such a generous agreement in these difficult economic times is still further evidence that it lacks the ability to manage our city’s finances.
I find it impossible to believe that crime rates in Aberdeen are improving. We were told last September that the crime rate for assault was up 9% in Aberdeen city centre and Belmont Street was described as the worst beat in Scotland.
There is a problem with youths stealing motorcycles and taunting police about their crimes on social networking websites.
Certainly, statistics can be manipulated to present any picture desired. This is particularly true with crime statistics.
Some statistics are impossible to manipulate: road deaths continue to rise, 17 so far in 2010 compared with 14 last year. This must be attributable to the lack of a police presence on the roads.
Alan Craigie,
16 Auchmill Road,
Aberdeen.
SIR, – Your interesting report (July 29) on the transport of the forward fuselage section of Nimrod XV 254 to the Highland Aviation Museum, Inverness, was a little misleading.
Although it is good that the Inverness aircraft museum at Dalcross will have this forward section for display, it is not the only Nimrod to remain in Scotland as the report suggests.
A group of enthusiasts from RAF Kinloss and the local area have already acquired Nimrod XV 240, which is now on display as a complete airframe at the station’s Crash Gate 3, close to the Kinloss-Burghead public road.
This aircraft was first delivered to RAF Kinloss in July 1970 and converted to Mk2 status in 1983. It is a fitting and complete tribute to this fine maritime patrol aircraft that will remain on show at RAF Kinloss on a permanent basis.
David Morgan,
4 Beechway,
Forres.
SIR, – Having had first-hand experience of what happens when one requires medical treatment while on holiday in Spain, in my case Tenerife, I feel full holiday insurance should be purchased and the insurance company should be made aware of any medical condition you might have.
I sought medical help in Tenerife due to facial burns caused while wearing prescription sunglasses. My face and eyelids suffered quite horrific blistering and I required medical help.
I went along to the local hospital, which charged me 90 euros before I could see a doctor then, after assistance, another 200 euros. My holiday insurers paid my medical fees, less £50 excess.
I and the rest of my family have the European Health Insurance Card, but we are not sure what this entitles us to.
Gavin D. Elder,
150 Prunier Drive,
Peterhead.
SIR, – I would like to thank all the people at Spey Bay last Sunday afternoon who helped us to find our black labrador, Letty, which had gone into the River Spey and been swept away in the strong current.
We were joined at the riverside by two young girl cyclists and two young men in wetsuits.
I alerted members of the WDCS Wildlife Centre and several of the girls searched the pathways until eventually they found Letty, who had climbed out of the river farther downstream.
After some coaxing, a very wet but happy Letty was reunited with us and is none the worse for her ordeal.
Isobel and Jimmy Simpson,
5 Connage Cottages,
Rathven,
Buckie.