Letter: Mixed messages

Treasury spokesman Stewart Hosie's comment (your report, 24 January) that "the SNP is doing what we can to keep costs down… for businesses" contrasts sharply with his colleague transport minister Keith Brown's statement last month in Holyrood that public funds should not subsidise the costs of people travelling on business.

The minister was justifying his decision to add 40 per cent to flight costs for rural enterprises in Orkney, Shetland, Islay and the Western Isles by excluding residents travelling on business from the air discount scheme.

This is an added blow to remote communities - already facing the highest fuel costs in the UK - when Central Belt residents are not (as yet?) being similarly told to pay more to use their heavily-subsidised bus and rail services if they are travelling on business.

Even now, the minister and his party still have time to review this decision, and reflect on the negative message it sends about their support for remote, rural enterprises.

Stephen Jenkinson

Curlews

Deerness, Orkney