Letters 2023 - underlining indicates deletion by editor; square brackets indicate insertion.
To The Edinburgh Evening News (11 Mar 2023)
Leah Gunn Barrett (Letter, 10 March) claimed that Scotland has no legal obligation to pay any of the UK debt and that the government has agreed. The matter is more complicated than she allows.
The government White Paper issued in 2014 argues that the Scottish Government will not take legal ownership of this debt. Instead it will make payments to the UK government to meet the servicing costs of Scotland’s agreed share of the debt (~£132bn). These costs could amount to £4bn/year.
However, it's not certain that the UK gov would agree to this arrangement as there are other complicating factors.
Scotland is not a colony; it's a founding member of Great Britain, bound to England by the Treaty of Union. Any change to that Treaty would require the agreement of the UK government; it can't be abrogated by just one partner.
Leah Gunn Barrett (Letter, 10 March) claimed that Scotland has no legal obligation to pay any of the UK debt and that the government has agreed. The matter is more complicated than she allows.
The government White Paper issued in 2014 argues that the Scottish Government will not take legal ownership of this debt. Instead it will make payments to the UK government to meet the servicing costs of Scotland’s agreed share of the debt (~£132bn). These costs could amount to £4bn/year.
However, it's not certain that the UK gov would agree to this arrangement as there are other complicating factors.
Scotland is not a colony; it's a founding member of Great Britain, bound to England by the Treaty of Union. Any change to that Treaty would require the agreement of the UK government; it can't be abrogated by just one partner.
To Scotland on Sunday (7 Mar 2023)
Leah Gunn Barrett thinks that Scotland does not need nuclear power (NP) and that the economic case against it is overwhelming (Letter, 5 March). Unsurprisingly she has let her enthusiasm for independence get in the way of the facts.
Scotland needs NP as much as the whole UK. That will be the greater when several NP stations retire, one in Scotland. Renewable energy is not going to power the country, especially when the wind drops, or is too strong, or when rivers run dry and the tide turns.
If NP is '2-3 times more expensive than solar. gas or wind', how come (as I write) 9.8 per cent of the grid electricity, supplying Ms Barrett as everyone else, is from NP? Is her electricity 2-3 times more expensive than anyone else's? According to the World Economic Forum, NP costs $96/MWh (megawatts per hour), 33 per cent more than electricity from burning gas (bad for the environment) but 35 per cent cheaper that solar-powered electricity.
No one is forced to pay a subsidy for NP while they are required to subsidise wind power.
Typically Ms Barrett calls on the reported NP accidents to bolster her case. The only NP accident where anyone died was at Chernobyl, at type of design that should never have been built and which was operated carelessly. No one has died from the operation of UK NP.
There is a 'solution for [the disposal of] nuclear waste: deep geological disposal, which awaits authorisation.
NP will not immediately solve the climate crisis (it should have been deployed at scale decades ago) but it will be needed in the long run. No existing generation system will solve the crisis; it will require a geoengineering solution.
Renewable energy is a fanciful attempt to escape from reality. The future is nuclear.
Leah Gunn Barrett thinks that Scotland does not need nuclear power (NP) and that the economic case against it is overwhelming (Letter, 5 March). Unsurprisingly she has let her enthusiasm for independence get in the way of the facts.
Scotland needs NP as much as the whole UK. That will be the greater when several NP stations retire, one in Scotland. Renewable energy is not going to power the country, especially when the wind drops, or is too strong, or when rivers run dry and the tide turns.
If NP is '2-3 times more expensive than solar. gas or wind', how come (as I write) 9.8 per cent of the grid electricity, supplying Ms Barrett as everyone else, is from NP? Is her electricity 2-3 times more expensive than anyone else's? According to the World Economic Forum, NP costs $96/MWh (megawatts per hour), 33 per cent more than electricity from burning gas (bad for the environment) but 35 per cent cheaper that solar-powered electricity.
No one is forced to pay a subsidy for NP while they are required to subsidise wind power.
Typically Ms Barrett calls on the reported NP accidents to bolster her case. The only NP accident where anyone died was at Chernobyl, at type of design that should never have been built and which was operated carelessly. No one has died from the operation of UK NP.
There is a 'solution for [the disposal of] nuclear waste: deep geological disposal, which awaits authorisation.
NP will not immediately solve the climate crisis (it should have been deployed at scale decades ago) but it will be needed in the long run. No existing generation system will solve the crisis; it will require a geoengineering solution.
Renewable energy is a fanciful attempt to escape from reality. The future is nuclear.
To The Scotsman (3 Mar 2023) published 4 Mar 2023
Richard Holloway claims that 'the secular mind is intolerant of those who practise a religion that does not conform to its own values' ('Secular intolerance of religious views is growing. Ask Kate Forbes'[your report] (2 March).
What does Mr Holloway know of 'the secular mind'? He sees people reacting to Ms Forbes's personal views and assumes that they must be secularist. But a secularist is someone who, while tolerating religious stances in individuals, strongly objects to religious views influencing public policy or practices. We object only to religious privilege and want church and state to be kept apart. I doubt that it was secularists who objected to Kate Forbes's personal religious views, influenced as they are by the Calvinist Free Church of Scotland.
One hopes and expects that, whatever part Ms Forbes plays in the government of Scotland, she ensures that her personal religious views do not influence SNP policy.
Secretary, Edinburgh Secular Society
Richard Holloway claims that 'the secular mind is intolerant of those who practise a religion that does not conform to its own values' ('Secular intolerance of religious views is growing. Ask Kate Forbes'[your report] (2 March).
What does Mr Holloway know of 'the secular mind'? He sees people reacting to Ms Forbes's personal views and assumes that they must be secularist. But a secularist is someone who, while tolerating religious stances in individuals, strongly objects to religious views influencing public policy or practices. We object only to religious privilege and want church and state to be kept apart. I doubt that it was secularists who objected to Kate Forbes's personal religious views, influenced as they are by the Calvinist Free Church of Scotland.
One hopes and expects that, whatever part Ms Forbes plays in the government of Scotland, she ensures that her personal religious views do not influence SNP policy.
Secretary, Edinburgh Secular Society
To The Scotsman (28 Feb 2023) published 1 Mar 2023
John Fraser claimed that Scotland voted to join England 'in creating the United Kingdom' (Letter, 28 February). In fact the parliaments of both Scotland and England voted separately to join together to create the Kingdom of Great Britain (GB). The United Kingdom was not created until 1800 when the former Kingdom of Ireland was joined to GB. Since then the UK lost most of Ireland but retained the title because a small part of the Irish kingdom remained (Northern Ireland). That's why the title of this country is 'The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland'. The kingdoms referred to in that title are those of GB and Ireland, not those of Scotland and England.
Those who claim that the 1707 vote by the then Scottish parliament was unrepresentative should note that any doubt that the people of Scotland support being in the UK vanished in the referendum of 2014.
John Fraser claimed that Scotland voted to join England 'in creating the United Kingdom' (Letter, 28 February). In fact the parliaments of both Scotland and England voted separately to join together to create the Kingdom of Great Britain (GB). The United Kingdom was not created until 1800 when the former Kingdom of Ireland was joined to GB. Since then the UK lost most of Ireland but retained the title because a small part of the Irish kingdom remained (Northern Ireland). That's why the title of this country is 'The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland'. The kingdoms referred to in that title are those of GB and Ireland, not those of Scotland and England.
Those who claim that the 1707 vote by the then Scottish parliament was unrepresentative should note that any doubt that the people of Scotland support being in the UK vanished in the referendum of 2014.
To The Sunday Times (27 Feb 2023)
Matthew Syed claimed that Neville Chamberlain 'avoided dealing with the truth...' that we were heading for another global conflict (26 February). However, in the interim, and under Chamberlain's premiership, the UK steamed ahead with war preparations. One could argue that Chamberlain gave us more time to prepare for the inevitable war and perhaps that was his intention.
Matthew Syed claimed that Neville Chamberlain 'avoided dealing with the truth...' that we were heading for another global conflict (26 February). However, in the interim, and under Chamberlain's premiership, the UK steamed ahead with war preparations. One could argue that Chamberlain gave us more time to prepare for the inevitable war and perhaps that was his intention.
To Edinburgh Evening News (24 Feb 2023) published 27 Feb 2023
I was sorry to hear of the plight of the Badowski family in a privately rented flat suffering damp and mould ('Couple's fear for "our wee girl" in mouldy home', 23 February).
The letting agents say that it is the tenants' fault and that it is due to condensation. They could be right, but one can't blame tenants for their lifestyle if their accommodation is not equipped to deal with modern life. The condensation, caused by high relative humidity (RH) can only effectively be prevented by extract fans fitted to bathroom and kitchen and used to their full at the time the moisture is generated. It is the owner's responsibility to fit such fans and flats should not be let without this provision.
Drying clothes anywhere in a dwelling will raise the RH throughout the home. Opening windows is not an effective means of controlling RH and the use of a dehumidifier is clearly not effective in this case, or perhaps in any case.
I was sorry to hear of the plight of the Badowski family in a privately rented flat suffering damp and mould ('Couple's fear for "our wee girl" in mouldy home', 23 February).
The letting agents say that it is the tenants' fault and that it is due to condensation. They could be right, but one can't blame tenants for their lifestyle if their accommodation is not equipped to deal with modern life. The condensation, caused by high relative humidity (RH) can only effectively be prevented by extract fans fitted to bathroom and kitchen and used to their full at the time the moisture is generated. It is the owner's responsibility to fit such fans and flats should not be let without this provision.
Drying clothes anywhere in a dwelling will raise the RH throughout the home. Opening windows is not an effective means of controlling RH and the use of a dehumidifier is clearly not effective in this case, or perhaps in any case.
To The Scotsman (22 Feb 2023) published 23 Feb 2023
Why do you think that most 'atheists and agnostics' accept that religious leaders 'play a valuable part in public discourse' (Leader, 21 February)? I certainly don't. The US Pew Research Centre found that, when asked about the role of religion in society, most atheists express negative views. Many atheists are also secularists, who, while accepting that everyone can hold whatever beliefs they choose, want public life to be free from religious influence or interference.
Please note that an agnostic is not someone who is equivocal about religion, as you imply, but someone who is certain that nothing is known or can be known of the existence or nature of God. This is a common mistake.
Why do you think that most 'atheists and agnostics' accept that religious leaders 'play a valuable part in public discourse' (Leader, 21 February)? I certainly don't. The US Pew Research Centre found that, when asked about the role of religion in society, most atheists express negative views. Many atheists are also secularists, who, while accepting that everyone can hold whatever beliefs they choose, want public life to be free from religious influence or interference.
Please note that an agnostic is not someone who is equivocal about religion, as you imply, but someone who is certain that nothing is known or can be known of the existence or nature of God. This is a common mistake.
To Edinburgh Evening News (10 Feb 2023) published 14 Feb 2023
I am shocked that the City of Edinburgh still seems ignorant of the cause of black mould (News, 9 February). It seems that they will conduct more investigations.
However the cause of the appearance of this fungus is well know to experts (I have explained it in previous letters). Failure to diagnose the cause suggests both ignorance and incompetence. Residential accommodation needs to be fully equipped to deal with modern living habits. Unfortunately most social housing fails this test.
I am shocked that the City of Edinburgh still seems ignorant of the cause of black mould (News, 9 February). It seems that they will conduct more investigations.
However the cause of the appearance of this fungus is well know to experts (I have explained it in previous letters). Failure to diagnose the cause suggests both ignorance and incompetence. Residential accommodation needs to be fully equipped to deal with modern living habits. Unfortunately most social housing fails this test.
To The Scotsman (10 Feb 2023) published 14 Feb 2023
A switch to hydrogen is a step in the right direction but not far enough ('Green hydrogen critical element in energy mix' [Sustainable Scotland], 9 February).
A better fuel would be ammonia, a mixture of hydrogen and nitrogen. Surprisingly, ammonia is a better carrier of hydrogen than hydrogen itself; its properties make transportation and storage straightforward. In some ways it makes more sense to transport hydrogen as ammonia and then back to hydrogen.
Ammonia may be a missing link in making decarbonisation happen. There are several projects under way involving ammonia ranging from supply chain entrants to integrated major renewable energy proposals. In the short run ammonia may be well suited for decarbonising, particularly where its use as a liquid carrier for hydrogen can be integrated into a wind farm scheme.
In 2020, a US company, Eneus Energy. announced that it intends to build a green ammonia plant in Orkney. Eneus describes itself as a “project developer and technology integrator for green ammonia,” and this announcement marked the first public disclosure of a site from its “portfolio” of projects under development.
A switch to hydrogen is a step in the right direction but not far enough ('Green hydrogen critical element in energy mix' [Sustainable Scotland], 9 February).
A better fuel would be ammonia, a mixture of hydrogen and nitrogen. Surprisingly, ammonia is a better carrier of hydrogen than hydrogen itself; its properties make transportation and storage straightforward. In some ways it makes more sense to transport hydrogen as ammonia and then back to hydrogen.
Ammonia may be a missing link in making decarbonisation happen. There are several projects under way involving ammonia ranging from supply chain entrants to integrated major renewable energy proposals. In the short run ammonia may be well suited for decarbonising, particularly where its use as a liquid carrier for hydrogen can be integrated into a wind farm scheme.
In 2020, a US company, Eneus Energy. announced that it intends to build a green ammonia plant in Orkney. Eneus describes itself as a “project developer and technology integrator for green ammonia,” and this announcement marked the first public disclosure of a site from its “portfolio” of projects under development.
To The Scotsman (2 Feb 2023) published 3 Feb 2023
Unsurprisingly, Boris Johnson is quite wrong to claim that Brexit enabled the UK to license the Covid-19 vaccines faster than any other country and that it 'gave us a crucial edge' (your report, 1 February).
Under European law, the UK was permitted to act independently to approve the vaccine in an emergency. From 2012, the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) was free, under regulation 174 of the Human Medicine Regulations 2012, to give temporary approval to an unlicensed medicinal product in the case of certain types of public health threat, such as a pandemic.
The Government admitted this: when the MHRA approved the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine for use in the UK on 2 December 2020, the Government press release accompanying this announcement made clear that approval was given under regulation 174. Brexit made difference; we always had control of the MHRA.
Unsurprisingly, Boris Johnson is quite wrong to claim that Brexit enabled the UK to license the Covid-19 vaccines faster than any other country and that it 'gave us a crucial edge' (your report, 1 February).
Under European law, the UK was permitted to act independently to approve the vaccine in an emergency. From 2012, the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) was free, under regulation 174 of the Human Medicine Regulations 2012, to give temporary approval to an unlicensed medicinal product in the case of certain types of public health threat, such as a pandemic.
The Government admitted this: when the MHRA approved the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine for use in the UK on 2 December 2020, the Government press release accompanying this announcement made clear that approval was given under regulation 174. Brexit made difference; we always had control of the MHRA.
To The Scotsman (24 Jan 2023) published 25 Jan 2023
Nicola Sturgeon continues to peddle the 'colonial myth' (that she will take Scotland 'out of the UK', your report [Scotsman] 23 January on being interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg). Of course she knows that Scotland is not a colony but it suits her scenario to imply that it is, that it is a downtrodden colony of the British Empire, entitle to leave whenever it wants.
However, like residents of Hotel California, Scotland can check out but it cannot leave. That is because it is bound by the 1707 Treaty of Union, something the SNP appears unwilling to mention. Any change to that Treaty would be a matter for the whole UK, or at least of Great Britain. There would need to be a UK referendum on the matter.
I never understood David Cameron's reasoning. Did he realise that he was putting the future of the whole UK at risk? Fortunately the sane voters of Scotland saved us from disaster.
Nicola Sturgeon continues to peddle the 'colonial myth' (that she will take Scotland 'out of the UK', your report [Scotsman] 23 January on being interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg). Of course she knows that Scotland is not a colony but it suits her scenario to imply that it is, that it is a downtrodden colony of the British Empire, entitle to leave whenever it wants.
However, like residents of Hotel California, Scotland can check out but it cannot leave. That is because it is bound by the 1707 Treaty of Union, something the SNP appears unwilling to mention. Any change to that Treaty would be a matter for the whole UK, or at least of Great Britain. There would need to be a UK referendum on the matter.
I never understood David Cameron's reasoning. Did he realise that he was putting the future of the whole UK at risk? Fortunately the sane voters of Scotland saved us from disaster.
To The Sunday Times (23 Jan 2023) published but edited on 29 Jan 2023
Matthew Syed (23 January) [, in his piece on the power of habit, refers to people thinking about what they will have for breakfast while cleaning [brushing] their teeth [(Comment, last week). Is this common practice? Surely] If they have any sense they'll clean their teeth after breakfast.
Matthew Syed (23 January) [, in his piece on the power of habit, refers to people thinking about what they will have for breakfast while cleaning [brushing] their teeth [(Comment, last week). Is this common practice? Surely] If they have any sense they'll clean their teeth after breakfast.
To The Scotsman (20 Jan 2023) published 21 Jan 2023
The Scotsman (2nd leader yesterday) appears to agree with the UK Government that the way to reduce our reliance on the international gas market is to invest more in renewables and nuclear power [Editorial, 20 January].
Investing in reliable nuclear power does not make renewables any more reliable; the latter, especially wind power, will always be unreliable and nuclear power cannot readily be switched on and off to compensate. Nuclear generation is best suited to provide the base load, the consistent demand below the variability level. But what will provide the extra power to fill gaps left by the absence of renewable generation? Gas?
The Scotsman (2nd leader yesterday) appears to agree with the UK Government that the way to reduce our reliance on the international gas market is to invest more in renewables and nuclear power [Editorial, 20 January].
Investing in reliable nuclear power does not make renewables any more reliable; the latter, especially wind power, will always be unreliable and nuclear power cannot readily be switched on and off to compensate. Nuclear generation is best suited to provide the base load, the consistent demand below the variability level. But what will provide the extra power to fill gaps left by the absence of renewable generation? Gas?
To The Edinburgh Evening News (17 Jan 2023) published 19 Jan 2023
You report Sir Keir Starmer as declaring that he would not change to a social insurance model to fund the NSS (your report, 16 January). He states that, in these models, employees contribute a proportion of their salary to fund and pay for their health care (actually it's for everyone's care).
However, that's exactly what we do here: NI contributions come from employees' salaries (also from employers). So what's the difference? Just that we only pay for some 18 per cent of the cost, the remainder coming from general taxation. Why not change that so that all NHS costs are funded from employee and employer contributions and reduce general taxation accordingly? Also remove the anomaly that people earning over £50,000 pa pay only 2 percent in NI contributions. Why should they not pay 12 per cent like lower earners?
You report Sir Keir Starmer as declaring that he would not change to a social insurance model to fund the NSS (your report, 16 January). He states that, in these models, employees contribute a proportion of their salary to fund and pay for their health care (actually it's for everyone's care).
However, that's exactly what we do here: NI contributions come from employees' salaries (also from employers). So what's the difference? Just that we only pay for some 18 per cent of the cost, the remainder coming from general taxation. Why not change that so that all NHS costs are funded from employee and employer contributions and reduce general taxation accordingly? Also remove the anomaly that people earning over £50,000 pa pay only 2 percent in NI contributions. Why should they not pay 12 per cent like lower earners?
To The Sunday Times (16 Jan 2023) not published
David Patrick, writing from Edinburgh (Letters, 15 January), should know better. The Scottish Liberal Democrats are not a branch of the UK party; they are independent in a federation of several UK parties, reflecting LibDem policy on a federal UK. Nothing forces them or the UK party to support Brexit. Indeed they oppose it. I was once a member.
David Patrick, writing from Edinburgh (Letters, 15 January), should know better. The Scottish Liberal Democrats are not a branch of the UK party; they are independent in a federation of several UK parties, reflecting LibDem policy on a federal UK. Nothing forces them or the UK party to support Brexit. Indeed they oppose it. I was once a member.
To The Scotsman (13 Jan 2023) not published
John Cutland (Letters, 13 January) outlines concern about recharging electric cars. Others have expressed similar comments on costs and range anxiety, etc.
There is a type of electric car that has none of these problems. I refer to fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). These are electric cars fuelled by hydrogen, which is put through a fuel cell to generate electricity (part of the fuel is free oxygen from air).
Among the advantages are a short fuelling time, long range and a hedge against increasing gas prices. The process also produces heat with no waste except water.
At present only two FCEVs are available on the UK market but more will become available eventually and their costs will come down.
John Cutland (Letters, 13 January) outlines concern about recharging electric cars. Others have expressed similar comments on costs and range anxiety, etc.
There is a type of electric car that has none of these problems. I refer to fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). These are electric cars fuelled by hydrogen, which is put through a fuel cell to generate electricity (part of the fuel is free oxygen from air).
Among the advantages are a short fuelling time, long range and a hedge against increasing gas prices. The process also produces heat with no waste except water.
At present only two FCEVs are available on the UK market but more will become available eventually and their costs will come down.
To The Scotsman (15 Jan 2023) not published
Sir Keir Starmer says that he would use private hospitals to clear the backlog in the NHS (Laura Kuenssberg on BBC, 15 January).
This simplistic idea seems to overlook the fact that the professionals employed by the private sector also work for the NHS. The can't be in two places at once. Private health care is a parasite, consuming NHS resources and debilitating it.
The solution is not to utilise private health care but to close it down and insist that NHS physicians work entirely within the NHS. Then the backlog might be attacked.
Sir Keir Starmer says that he would use private hospitals to clear the backlog in the NHS (Laura Kuenssberg on BBC, 15 January).
This simplistic idea seems to overlook the fact that the professionals employed by the private sector also work for the NHS. The can't be in two places at once. Private health care is a parasite, consuming NHS resources and debilitating it.
The solution is not to utilise private health care but to close it down and insist that NHS physicians work entirely within the NHS. Then the backlog might be attacked.