Letters: May the force be with us . . and not on a career break

I WAS very concerned by the front page article "Summertime blues" (News, November 10). I understand that we are in difficult financial times and many organisations are looking for sensible ways to cut costs. However, if it is true that Lothian and Borders police officers could get a lump sum of £12,000 to take a three-year career break then I am far from happy at the situation.

Many organisations are encouraging people to take long career breaks at the moment, however the vast majority of these organisations will not be paying their staff to do so and the police should be no different.

In fact if you pay someone to take a career break then it defeats the purpose of saving money as you will be paying someone who is not carrying out their duties.

I would encourage people to take a career break if it means it will help the firm they work for through financial difficulty and ensures that the person concerned continues to have a job in the longer term. A career break does not necessarily mean sitting at home doing nothing.

This is perhaps a time that an individual can use wisely such as learning a new skill which in the future might actually further their career or lead to new opportunities altogether.

Alastair Macintyre, Webster Place, Rosyth, Fife

Booze result not worth drinking to

THE rejection of alcohol minimum pricing by the Scottish Parliament was as depressing as it was predictable.

Even a full-page advert by the British Medical Association, signed by many luminaries from the medical profession, law enforcement and charities failed to sway Labour, the Tories and Lib Dems.

How can so many experts be wrong and the opposition – backed by the drinks industry – be right?

Anyone with enough sense understood that minimum pricing would have targeted cheap off-sales booze – the jumbo bottles of white cider and industrial vodka loved by problem drinkers regardless of their income bracket – not all drinks.

As for boosting supermarket profits: nonsense. The social responsibility levy which Parliament actually approved provides the mechanism for recouping any ill-gotten gains.

And the opposition's alternative? Go cap in hand to Westminster asking them to sort out our problems. Brilliant.

James Tout, Edinburgh

Triple whammy of building work

REPORTS that John Swinney is planning to prioritise capital investment projects in next Wednesday's budget are good news for the thousands in Scotland waiting for a home.

This will be an important move that will help protect jobs and help pull Scotland out of the economic doldrums.

What limited capital expenditure Mr Swinney has available must deliver the maximum return for the people of Scotland.

Investing in building more affordable homes would deliver the triple bottom line of creating a public asset, generating jobs and providing greatly needed homes for the thousands of families desperately waiting for one.

Gordon MacRae, head of communications and policy, Shelter Scotland, Scotiabank House, South Charlotte Street, Edinburgh

A tram journey to memory lane

Your item regarding the Melbourne trams on YouTube caught my eye (News, November 9).

I recently purchased a programme on the Melbourne tram system. What I found really amusing was Melbourne, like Edinburgh, started with cable trams which lasted in sections until 1956 – the year Edinburgh got rid of its last electric trams first time round!

Meantime, Melbourne having electrified its system kept it, and has the impressive network which exists today. What would have happened if Edinburgh had done the same?

Incidentally, Adelaide is currently building up its new tram system having started fairly recently from scratch.

Alec Rankin, John Knox Road, Longniddry, East Lothian