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“Ministers have been accused of failing to protect people from falling into debt after the Scottish Government abandoned a pledge to tackle the growth of payday loan companies and betting shops” – The Scottish Government’s position on payday lenders provoked a lively online debate: If the Vow is to be delivered , allowing direct regulation of payday lenders, then what is the point in pursuing changes to planning laws which would not have eliminated the problem in any case? – Richard Holmes, Orkney Planning refusals can be appealed, and even taken to court. Whereas direct law is - the Law. Still, the problem is now, not if / when Smith is delivered. – Peter Piper, Ayrshire The only folk who could complain about this would be folk who didn’t believe Westminister would deliver on the Vow as promised. – Iain Lawson, Paisley So if the nationalist govt couldn’t fix the problem, why did they promise to? – Peter Moseley The Scottish Government has no devolved power over payday loan companies and betting shops but as in other cases has been able to take action through the back door via planning law which is devolved. This is a long process which is no longer worth pursuing as the power is being devolved through Smith. – John Jamieson These parasites on the poor are causing daily misery, and from the outside it certainly looks like a promise postponed and not kept. – Margaret Kirkwood This talk of looking after the poorest in our society is a great SNP soundbite, but when it comes to action the soundbite has no teeth. – Charlie Robertson, Glasgow Join the debate at heraldscotland.com