Letters: Engine threats putting too much heat on city workers

I would urge the authorities to think carefully about how they implement this proposal and carry it out.

Over the years I have worked as a gardener in Edinburgh for various organisations and companies. Part of my duties has included driving squads of men around.

In many cases the men would be expected to work in the rain and cold and it was not always possible to get back to a depot for breaks.

In the above case, I hope it would be OK to leave an engine running.

People doing jobs that might involve working from a vehicle deserve somewhere warm and dry to eat their lunch.

I can guarantee the wardens handing out the fines would not put up with a cold office.

I agree with switching off engines if you are just waiting outside a shop or perhaps waiting outside a school to pick up your kids, and in these types of cases I would not object to someone being fined.

If the authorities are serious about cracking down on engine idling, then surely the same should apply to trains that are sitting at Waverley or buses at the bus station.

Alastair Macintyre, Webster Place, Rosyth

Japan work ethic puts us to shame

I RECENTLY saw amazing photographs of a Japanese road that had been torn apart in the March 11 earthquake. What was just as astounding was the fact that, in spite of the terrible hardships and horrors that the Japanese have had to endure since then, six days later the road had been repaired.

It has been said that it displays the Japanese determination to get things rebuilt as quickly as possible. However, it also shows up the inabilities of a city rather closer to home.

If the Japanese can accomplish this in a week, why can't Edinburgh sort out its pot-holes and road problems with a little more speed?

N Dunlop, Edinburgh

Scotland deserves business tax cuts

PROPOSALS by the UK Government to cut Northern Ireland's corporation tax rate to 12.5 per cent are deeply worrying and will create an imbalance that will take jobs away from Scotland.

Such a move also highlights the hypocrisy of the UK Government, with Stormont potentially able to cut its corporation tax rate from 28 per cent to 12.5 per cent, but Holyrood prevented from doing so, a position that is now simply untenable.

In addition, while following the recent Budget, it is abundantly clear that Scottish oil revenues are bankrolling the UK Exchequer - with all-time record North Sea revenues of 13.4 billion expected in 2011/12, an increase of more than 4bn and more than double the figure for 2009/10 - Scotland is to be denied control over the key economic driver of corporation tax. While we have the resources, we are apparently to be denied the powers.

During the Calman debate, there were strong arguments for Scotland to be given the power to vary corporation tax, with entrepreneur Sir Tom Hunter backing the call, and the recent report by the Scotland Bill Committee arguing that if Northern Ireland gets lower corporation tax, it should happen in Scotland too

Nations across Europe have used a policy of lower corporation tax to significantly increase economic growth, attract new businesses, create jobs and add to government revenues. It is the right approach for Scotland and would give our economy a massive boost.

Alex Orr, SNP list candidate, Leamington Terrace, Edinburgh

Adding no fuel to independence bid

I READ with interest of the cut to fuel duty in the Budget.

It does bring into sharp contrast the petrol prices here in Britain with a country such as Norway, where a litre of petrol is an eye-watering 157p a litre.

It makes you realise why the SNP no longer mentions Norway when talking about independence.

M Smythe, Dalry Road, Edinburgh