Letters: Providing for vulnerable must be made a priority

Resistance to these cuts is developing nationwide as the effects are being felt. This resistance is most necessary but it is not enough just calling for the restoration of services and funding.

Despite the UK being financially bankrupt after six years of war, from 1945 a whole series of public services was started – the most important by far was the NHS.

Other important services have been developed since, paid for by the hard work of the population. The question today is for whom is the wealth of the UK to be used?

All citizens are important but the most deserving are the children and elderly because they are the most vulnerable.

Children must have every opportunity to develop, ensured through pre-natal care, learning opportunities from early years and free nutritious midday meals throughout school life. No child should be prevented from pursuing further education by lack of funds.

It is true that many elderly end up being frail and their needs become more sharp. Having a good pension, good healthcare and support to enable them to lead a life in dignity, not poverty and isolation is essential. This is a minimum that should be done for our parents.

I imagine most people aspire to a long life, so it is at least a self interest to ensure these and other policies are statutory.

A Delahoy, Silverknowes Gardens, Edinburgh

We’re paying for MSPs’ vote bid

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon seems to think that a higher minimum price on alcohol is the only answer to solve the culture of heavy drinking.

Why does she not speak out about excessive advertisement of drink? And that in all our soaps you will be lucky to find a teetotaller among any of the casts. Again she has nothing to say.

Why does she not advocate for more money to educate our young children at school? Why does she not speak out about excessive gambling, which can affect the health of the families involved? Again she has nothing to say. Because votes could be lost here.

I don’t like the idea of politicians interfering on prices, what will it be next? All that will happen with a higher minimum price on alcohol is that ordinary people will suffer and the ones with the drink problems will end up mugging our senior citizens to get money for their drink.

John Connor, David Henderson Court, Dunfermline

It’s time to see promises through

David Cameron has promised much but done nothing. Now there is a chance for him to redeem himself with one decisive action.

Thorbjorn Jagland, the man in charge of the controversial European Convention on Human Rights, has admitted David Cameron’s pledge to bring in a British Bill of Rights could be the “right thing to do”.

This would enable the UK to take the convention into account within the framework of UK law, and end the scandal of foreign judges overriding the decisions of British courts.

Just think, no foreign rapists, terrorists, criminals and undesirables avoiding deportation because of their “human rights” to a family life, having a cat or that they would be in danger in their own country.

At present we not only give them social housing but we feed and clothe them with taxpayers’ cash.

You made a promise David now you must act. Whilst you are at it you could scrap the Equalities and Human Rights Commission, which costs millions of pounds but contributes, according to Civitas, “very little to meaningful equality”.

Clark Cross, Springfield Road Linlithgow

Falling apart at the seams

An independent Scotland?

Six frightening and ominous words come to mind: “United we stand, divided we fall.”

Sylvia De Luca, Juniper Green