Intervention was unedifying

Sir, – Esther McVey’s appearance at Holyrood’s Social Security Committee was reported on the BBC’s Reporting Scotland.

The report concentrated on the unseemly heckling she was subjected to by members of the public, causing proceedings to be suspended on more than one occasion, as she addressed the so-called “rape clause”.

Firstly, it baffles me why there is a public presence at these serious meetings when the inevitable consequences are disrupted by an illinformed and boorish element with either personal axes to grind or who are there for party propaganda purposes.

Either way it is unedifying, unhelpful and preventable but sadly gives the TV producers what they would mistakenly describe as “good television”.

Secondly, no mention was made in the report of Professor Tompkins’ question regarding the likelihood of Holyrood being ready and able to take over the benefits system by 2021.

Ms McVey said: “We need more information coming forward and we need it quicker and with greater clarity.”

She added: “At the same time we will have to put measures in place to ensure that, if the Scottish Government can’t do it, we will no doubt end up doing it through agency agreements.”

With the welldocumented list of SNP failures – farmers’ payments, Police Scotland, NHS , the education system and so on – one wonders what possible hope there is that this most complicated of all their challenges so far will not result in anything other than another hopeless debacle with Westminster providing the safety net once again.

Donald Lewis. Pine Cottage, Beech Hill, Gifford.