Beachd Ailein
Ms Kate Forbes tried to explain why Scottish businesses are not receiving the same grant support here as they are in England and Wales.
This is despite her having told parliament on March 18 that the Scottish Government would replicate or mirror the UK Chancellor’s package of support. It turns out the Scottish Government never intended to keep those promises.
Her explanation as to why the same level of support is not being provided in Scotland is not plausible. She pointed out Scotland was home to far more smaller businesses eligible for the lower grant of £10,000. ‘As such, there are far more small businesses getting a £10,000 grant in Scotland than they would in either England or Wales,’ she said.
Scotland actually has a much lower ratio of businesses per head of population than the average for the rest of the UK. Scotland has 729 businesses per 10,000 head of population versus the average across the UK of 1,090 businesses per 10,000.
The fact that there are less businesses in Scotland per head of population means that Scotland should have greater funding for businesses than the rest of the UK.
Michael Lumsden, Pure Spa & Beauty
I composed this poem recently to reflect the times we are living in at the moment. I thought it might be something your readers might like. editor@obantimes.co.uk
Saoilidh mi gum bheil adhbhar dìth-misneachaidh agam leis mar a tha tachairt neo ’s dòcha nach eil a’ tachairt san lios am-bliadhna, gu ruige seo co-dhiù! An-uiridh ghobaich barran a’ bhuntàta taobh a-staigh chola-deug agus bha am fear tràth agus cuid an fhoghair a’ fàs gu snog nuair a thàinig oidhche reothaidh deireadh a’ Ghiblein a theab cur às dhaibh. Dh’fhàs iad ruadh taobh a-staigh ceithir uairean fichead, agus an toiseach bha mi a’ smaoineachadh gur e seòrsa de ghaiseadh a bh’ ann ach ged nach d’ fhuair iad seachad air chùm iad a’ fàs gu deireadh an t-samhraidh. Cha robh an toradh idir cho math ‘s a bhithinn an dùil agus bha mi a’ cur na coire air an reothadh. Am-bliadhna chan eil sgeul ach air aon bhàrr an dèidh dhan t-sìol-cura a bhith san talamh airson faisg air mìos, agus bha mi a’ cuimhneachadh air mar a thuirt bodach sa bhaile againn nuair a bha mi òg is e fhèin a’ gearan mun aon seòrsa suidheachaidh. “Cha chreid mi”, thuirt e, “nach ann a’ fàs sìos a tha e am-bliadhna!” An e an trioblaid dìreach gum bheil mise mì-fhoighidneach, neo an do cheannaich mi droch shìol-cura am-bliadhna? Uill ’s e fìrinn na cùise gur i an ùine a dh’innseas, agus chan eil agam ach a bhith foighidneach ged is duilich ’s gum bheil sin dhomh!
’S coltach gun robh am mìos a chaidh seachad air Giblean cho tioram ‘s a chaidh a chlàradh, agus chan eil sin na annas nuair a bheachdaicheas sinn air na bh’ againn de làithean grianach blàth, agus gu dearbh bidh mòran a chuireas fàilte air beagan uisge a-nise ach an tig fàs. ’S iomadh turas a smaoinich mi air cho math ‘s a bha an aimsir dhan fheadhainn a tha ri buain mhònadh, agus cho luath ‘s a bhiodh craiceann cruaidh a’ tighinn oirre fo theas den t-seòrsa. Tha deagh chuimhneachain agam bho làithean glè òg air a bhith aig mòine, àm sònraichte dhan chloinn agus dromannan goirt dha na h-inbhich! Dhearbh mise sin dhomh fhìn cuideachd iomadach turas nuair a thàinig mi gu ìre na h-obrach, agus saoilidh mi gur e a’ chiad togail air na fàdan a bu duilghe is do dhruim crom fad uairean a thìde! Ach air an làimh eile b’ e amannan toilichte a bh’ ann is nàbaidhean a’ tighinn còmhla, gu sònraichte aig àm buana agus ga toirt dhachaigh, gus càch a chèile a chuideachadh. Rachadh an obair agus an ùine seachad nas luaithe le beagan dibhearsain agus geur-chainnt an lùib lìonmhorachd nan làmh a bha cho cudromach ann am feallsanachd bhailtean croitearachd aig an àm.
Ged ’s ann aig astar a dh’fheumte a nochdadh, nach math uimhir den aon seòrsa càirdeis fhaicinn aig an àm dhuilich seo!
Community co-operation with seasonal and other tasks was an important tradition in crofting communities and how good to see the same spirit in evidence, albeit at a distance, during this lockdown.
Allan Campbell, ailean@obantimes.co.uk