Happy to host virus test station

Sir, – I see we have another pointless and distracting argument in the middle of a public health emergency in Scotland (Political row over mobile testing at Pitlochry as concerns raised over lack of communication, Courier, May 16).

We all know the military are helping with testing efforts in Scotland, and that will be appreciated by many people in need and indeed by all our NHS staff who will be happy to see their capacity increased.

The whole point of these pop-up assessment centres is that they can move around and deploy quickly to different areas, most notably to the sad outbreak on Skye.

It may well be that in some areas their presence may turn out not to be necessary, but they can move on.

In the current situation, they have to deploy at short notice, but it was obvious from the press this week when they were coming to Pitlochry and who was allowed to get tested.

If you want to set up any structure in Perth and Kinross, it is not the permission ofJohn Swinney or Pete Wishart you need but the local authority, who it appears are the very people who suggested the Pitlochry site was a suitable place to go.

It is they who will be most aware of what might be suitable and what the local demand might be.

Levels of testing in Scotland are really poor. It is the job of our local representatives to increase the capacity for doing this, not to be undermining efforts.

I think most people in Highland Perthshire will be happy to see them here and that those people who need to get tested can go and use them.

Victor Clements. Mamie’s Cottage, Aberfeldy.