SIR, – Gordon Brown in desperation has made a major mistake in selecting Peter Mandelson for his Cabinet. Despite his intellect he is not popular with the people and many Labour MPs who regard him as a “has-been”. It will do nothing to help our prime minister’s poor showing in the polls.
Mr Brown would have done better with new blood in the Cabinet rather than appointing someone with a history of failure who will be too busy fighting personal battles, and will be diverted from the job he has been appointed to do.
Dennis Grattan,
Mugiemoss Road,
Bucksburn, Aberdeen.
SIR, – The annual economic benefit to the local economy in having almost 5,000 international students was recently reported as £75million or £15,000 per student. But what do we give them in return?
While these students are expected to have arranged sufficient funds to meet both their fees and their living costs prior to embarking on the course many find that they need to work while studying and thus provide a substantial employment pool for local businesses.
However many international students are not being taxed correctly as they have been paying tax at the basic tax rate on all their earnings for prolonged periods thus depriving them of much-needed income.
Many are unaware that they can recover it from the Inland Revenue.
This additional and unnecessary shortfall exacerbates their financial hardship. However the international student has no recourse to any assistance from public funds and are denied access to any government-funded hardship grants or benefits.
Consequently, such help as is available comes from private donations which means that in comparison to UK students in a similar situation the help available tends to be modest.
Jim Henderson,
North East Student Money Advisers,
Kingswood Avenue,
Kingswells, Aberdeen.
SIR, – Having been involved in the compilation of government budgets at the highest level, I always look suspiciously at any dramatic change in policy from any political party.
Sadly, The Liberal Democrats’ proposals to cut taxes by around £20billion seems to be a political manoeuvre. This is a U-turn considering their previous policy was to increase taxation.
The real reason is due to the resurgence of the Conservatives, who have said that they will not cut taxes.
The Lib Dems have jumped at this opportunity to try to woo Conservative voters.
This type of political opportunism is what gives politics a bad name. There are other reasons why such tax concessions can never be accomplished.
Revenues have already fallen substantially due to the onset of the credit crunch.
Extra borrowing measures are already being put in place. Billions of pounds will be required for the next generation of nuclear weapons.
Let us also not forget the issue of disposing of the radioactive nuclear waste.
What is also never talked about is the cost of combating rising sea levels.
John Jappy,
Moy Bridge, Muir of Ord.
SIR, – Regarding your article “Cut in funding puts eight new Oban homes on hold” (Press and Journal, October 1), while I welcome Argyll Community Housing Association’s ambitions, it is disappointing that they fail to acknowledge the Scottish Government’s commitment towards new affordable housing.
It is not correct to state that the budget has been reduced from £21million, as that figure reflects spending for last year. In 2007-08 Argyll and Bute benefited from significant increased funding at the end of the financial year.
This year, the government will invest £14.7million in affordable housing in Argyll and Bute. It is in addition to more than £8million invested in Oban alone over the last two years.
With regard to the project at Croft Avenue, Oban, it is misleading for the chief executive at the housing association to claim that this development “has been put on hold . . . due to delays in funding”.
Funding is ring-fenced as part of the stock transfer agreement between the council and ACHA.
The reason that this project has not proceeded sooner is a result of exceptionally high costs. Government officials are meeting with ACHA shortly to discuss their schemes. My officials will continue to work closely with the council.
Stewart Maxwell MSP,
Communities and Sport Minister.
SIR, – Following the article, “School garden catches the eye of judges” (Press and Journal, September 27), I would like to add some relevant details.
The children at Applegrove had come to the attention of Britain In Bloom before 2008. In the 1980s, some classes visited what was then Moray District Council’s nurseries at Grant Park.
As a result, 40 window boxes were bought by the PTA with the help of the district council (hardly a couple as mentioned).
Professional help and encouragement were given by the council’s parks department. I have a copy of a letter received from Bob Cherry, director of recreation for the council, on October 16, 1986. It states: “Forres has won the major award for small towns in this year’s Britain In Bloom competition. I am delighted to thank you for the school’s contribution and, in view of the judges’ comments, I enclose a copy of their press release.”
The press release states: “This year, not only did Applegrove surpass itself with its splendid display, but its example was emulated by other schools in the town.”
Margaret Hutcheon,
(A.H.T Infants Applegrove 1974-87),
Union Street, Keith.
A letter yesterday was incorrectly attributed to Scottish Government communications officer Stuart Lewis when in fact it should have been from Environment Minister Mike Russell. We apologise for the error.