Lamont’s labours

Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont’s proposals, outlined in her recent speech (your reports, 25 September), deserve careful consideration, rather than the Pavlovian responses of some 
observers.

The council tax freeze has benefited rich taxpayers disproportionately, while vital council services – on which vulnerable people depend – are having to be cut back.

So-called free prescriptions have resulted in cutbacks in front-line healthcare, as the cost has to be borne out of reducing or static NHS board budgets. It is the rich who have benefited from the extension of free prescriptions.

And much-vaunted “free” higher education has distorted university intakes, transferred the burden of cost and resulted in cuts to college budgets.

It is further, rather than 
higher, education we should be protecting.

There are no free goods or services. Someone has to pay the cost, and Johann has at last started a grown-up debate on the issue of how they are funded.

George Foulkes

Barony Terrace

Edinburgh