Letters: Free transport would push Scotland in right direction

In a Scottish election campaign most notable for the "inevitability of pain" mantra of all the major parties, it was refreshing to hear about the Scottish Socialist Party's idea of free public transport.

When introduced in Hasselt, Belgium, there was a ten-fold increase in use of public transport. The benefits are huge and many, tackling poverty, public health, job creation, the environment and regeneration of rural communities.

Can you imagine the effect on tourism, having free public transport for all, throughout Scotland? It would bring much-needed tourist spending to rural communities.

Add savings to the NHS from reduction in traffic accidents and improved general health from people getting out more and being active, probably reduced absence from work and fewer repairs needed to road infrastructure.

Then add in the C02 targets met, air and noise pollution reduced and the obvious benefits to the poor and the squeezed middles. It's a solid gold idea.

Paul Jordan, Oxgangs Avenue, Edinburgh

Reservations over election coverage

The television coverage of political issues in Scotland is generally excellent. However, during the television coverage of the Holyrood election campaign 2011 I have been seriously concerned about the lack of vigilance when it comes to distinguishing between devolved and reserved issues.

In one example, Newsnight Scotland's piece last Thursday on all the minor parties and independent candidates was an interesting report but also a worryingly stark example of broadcasters allowing politicians to blur the issues. In the programme, topics raised in interviews with candidates included: immigration; raising state pension levels, nationalising the oil industry, stopping benefit cuts, taxing the rich, regulating the banks, defence and foreign policy, and leaving the EU, all of which are reserved issues.

It is up to broadcasters to make sure that the public is clear about what issues are actually up for contention at this Holyrood election. I'm not saying that the Scottish public aren't generally aware of what powers the Scottish Parliament currently has. However, for the benefit of clarity and transparency, I hope that during this last week of coverage broadcasters will, firstly, be more diligent about highlighting reserved issues when they are mentioned in debates and interviews; and, secondly, more proactive in identifying their irrelevance in this election.Ben Macpherson,Edinburgh

Heading down the wrong track

THE recently launched and much-vaunted rail connection between Bathgate and Airdrie has not lived up to expectations.

The service is consistently unreliable, and seems to be treated as a sacrificial lamb if ScotRail can't make everything work at one particular time and something has to go.

I've had two occasions in the last week where I've ended up late home because part of the service has been sacrificed. For example, a late train from Edinburgh to Helensburgh was helped to get back on time by skipping stations including Livingston and Uphall. These are busy destinations which many commuters have been using before the new service started.

I have a season ticket, but it seems that at a whim I am considered less important than some others. Can I get a refund, ScotRail? I don't think so.

Liz Connolly, Uphall, West Lothian

Tasteless column insulting to many

I TAKE issue with an item within John Gibson's column on April 21. His "Roll those eggs" item is in extremely bad taste and is offensive to any intelligent person, let alone the many thousands of Christian people to whom it does matter when the Last Supper took place.

To come out with this inane, unnecessary and frankly bad taste comment at this time of year, when a major feast of the Christian church is celebrated, is provocative and beneath contempt. Shame on an otherwise mainly entertaining journalist.

Ronald J Brown, Balgreen Road, Edinburgh