Jobs blow

Much is made of Donald Trump's attempt to turn the Balmedie area of Aberdeenshire into "the best golf course in the world" and to provide future employment benefits. However, anyone who knows the employment market relating to hotels and to the leisure industry as a whole will be aware that a) it is transitory, with the employment of a very high proportion of staff being seasonal and, b) dominated by foreigners due to c) the pitifully low wages it pays.

The project may be good for Mr Trump's pocket. It may be good for some builders in the short term, but it will have more effect on the employment statistics in Poland, Portugal and Ireland than it will in Scotland in general, or Aberdeenshire in particular.

ANDREW HN GRAY

Craiglea Drive

Edinburgh