Courage and determination

Sir, - Correspondent David L Thomson (letters, January 4) while voicing his dissatisfaction with Scottish Government policies, makes a number of charges.

The named person scheme he claims as being ‘unpopular’ (by unspecified groups) has the support of the welfare organisations involved.

He claims our education system is ‘failing’ – and yet Scotland’s school children are viewed as some of the best educated in the world.

His complaint regarding NHS Scotland is rather unfortunately timed, given the current meltdown of the Conservative-run NHS in England, and Labourrun NHS in Wales.

The current state of the respective public services in the UK bring to mind Labour’s Lord Foulkes’ gripe during an interview, that the SNP were endeavouring to make Scotland’s public services better than south of the border.

When asked if this was a bad thing, he reportedly replied: ‘No, but they are doing it deliberately’.

Mr Thomson’s other complaints range from Scottish Government ‘spin doctors’, in a year which saw a 585% increase in David Mundell’s hospitality costs, and unspecified SNP junkets to ‘sunny climes’.

Yes, I believe our First Minister was guilty of attending an October summit in Iceland, held by the UN’s Framework Convention on Climate Change. Shame on her.

The presence of ‘many failed renewable schemes’ round off Mr Thomson’s list, oblivious to the many successes achieved in that field.

In light of the Scottish Government’s limited powers and resources, courtesy of Westminster, his unhappiness at government cut backs can be more accurately and fairly addressed to Westminster.

Mr Thomson would like to see ‘radical thinking’ and a ‘progressive Scotland’.

Many believe an independent Scotland will deliver this and more.

All it would take is the courage and the determination demanded by the gentleman. Ken Clark. 335 King Street, Broughty Ferry.