Letters: SNP's social responsibility tax is hare-brained scheme

Her suggestion that "those who profit from the sale of alcohol" should be responsible for the behaviour of those who abuse it is nonsense.

Will Ms Sturgeon then put in place the same taxes for tobacco companies to cover the cost of smoking related diseases and for fast food companies for the cost of obesity problems? She could then go on to charge car manufacturers for accidents resulting from people driving under the influence of drugs or drink.

She is turning her anti-alcohol crusade into a farce. Why not make those who abuse alcohol responsible for their own actions and charge them for any hospital treatment or police call-outs resulting from their behaviour? Perhaps then the irresponsible minority would temper their behaviour.

Simply shifting the responsibility from the guilty parties to those who merely provide a service will do nothing to alter the mind set of those intent on causing havoc.

I await her next hare-brained idea with interest.

Sheila Fraser, Beveridge Close, Dalkeith

Cardiac rehab made big change

I READ that NHS Lothian is producing its heart manual on DVD (News, October 14). The article went on to say that NHS Lothian said men had a low uptake of the cardiac rehabilitation programme.

I suffered a heart attack in May 2008. I thought it was the beginning of the end for me.

The cardiac nurse from my GP asked if I would like to attend the ten-week cardiac rehab course.

This was one of the best things that could have happened to me, I met other people of varying ages who had also had heart problems, and great staff who took us through exercise, relaxation and discussions about our health.

At no time were we made feel inadequate, quite the contrary, the physio and other staff made sure we never did too much and took things at a pace that suited each patient.

I urge anyone who has had a heart attack to take part in the cardiac rehab, it has made a great difference to me and to my health.

William Whyte, Piersfield Grove, Edinburgh

Getting it right for our grandchildren

IN Edinburgh today we have a great bus service because in the 1930s through to the 1950s the trams subsidised its expansion.

Why are we now dominated by such mean-minded moaning Minnies?

It takes time and vision to make a future for our grandchildren. Maybe the council did not spend enough time on the vision and made a mess of passing the project to TIE. Do we need to travel for work, shops, school and leisure? Why is it more important to make a quick profit on dormitory houses than to create balanced communities?

Bob Dalgleish, Granton

Best bus service in the country

WE have the best bus service in the UK with friendly and helpful drivers. We have it all, so why risk it joining up with the trams which are not needed, except for a showpiece for councillors?

We must support the buses to keep them independent from TIE or they will drag us down with them.

Anne Forrest, Bellevue Road

Business plan put under scrutiny

RON Hastie (Interactive, October 16) was wrong to assert that the Lib Dems didn't express the need for greater detail on the TEL business plan, our call for further information was in the motion we tabled. And he was wrong to say that the decision was to restrict access to two councillors from each group, any councillor can get access to that information.

In addition the plans are scrutinised by internal and external financial experts.

Cllr Gordon Mackenzie