Inquiry for gas tower but not trams makes no sense

It would seem that the SNP Scottish Government has the same twisted logic as all other parties.

National Grid has lodged an appeal with the Government against Edinburgh City Council's decision to refuse it permission to demolish the gas holder at Granton yet the Government is expected to hold a public inquiry into the matter (News, June 21).

Strange logic indeed that a public inquiry into this dispute, which is costing the taxpayer nothing, is expected, yet there is no public inquiry into Edinburgh's tram fiasco which is costing the country more than 500 million. That is more than 500m which has been wasted.

No logic whatsoever, yet not a surprise.

David Black, Kenmure Avenue, Edinburgh

All facts needed before decision

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THE council must not be asked to make a final decision on June 30 to cancel, continue or temporarily mothball the trams project if figures for all options are not going to be available (News, June 17).

That meeting must be postponed until such figures are available, otherwise councillors will not be properly informed.

John Duncan, Rose Street North Lane, Edinburgh Code keeps care workers in line

EVENTS have highlighted unacceptably poor levels of care provided in some residential services by those trusted to care and support vulnerable people.

High-calibre, skilled care workers are a must, not an optional extra. As Margo MacDonald pointed out ("Margo wants care courses", News, June 16), competence, skill and suitability to work in care are crucial. As a society, we cannot tolerate the maltreatment of those who are most in need of care and protection, and the SSSC is here to help ensure that poor practice is addressed.

Arrangements are in place to ensure that all care staff are properly trained, assessed and qualified, and by 2015 all care home workers will be legally required to be registered either with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) or another workforce regulator.

Each worker must sign up to meet the SSSC Code of Practice for Social Service Workers as part of their registration, which allows them to remain in this workforce.

Failure to meet these standards and promote the interests of service users is unacceptable and may result in a worker being removed from the register and from the social service workforce. Workers also have a responsibility to ensure that poor practice they may witness is highlighted so that steps can be taken to improve.

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Employers, workers and the public can be assured that we can and do take action against any registered worker who fails to act appropriately and in the interests of the people who use social services.

Garry Coutts, Scottish Social Services Council, Dundee

Whose side will you take in vote?

THE wish for two independence referendums rather than one by those opposed to independence raises a possible conundrum for politicians on the Unionist side.

If the Scottish people vote "Yes" to the proposal of the SNP Scottish Government to enter into negotiations with the UK as to Scotland becoming an independent nation again, and these talks are held with a view as to those proposals being voted upon in a further referendum, on whose side of those negotiations will the Unionist Scottish politicians be?

If they take the side of the UK state, they may well find themselves attempting to broker a deal as damaging to Scotland (and their own constituents) as possible in the hope that such a deal will be rejected in a second referendum.

On the other hand, can they argue the case for a positive beginning to a Scottish state given they are essentially branches of London-based parties?

As we are about to see a by-election for a Westminster Parliament, perhaps it's time for Unionist parties to let us know not which side they are on, but which side they will be on if Scotland says "Yes" .

Gavin Fleming, Webster's Land, Grassmarket, Edinburgh