Letters: Too late for consultation now money's been spent

The council will argue this is democracy in action; I suggest it's an abdication of responsibility on its part.

Where was the public consultative process when major capital funded projects such as the tram scheme were being rolled out?

On the subject of money and budget cuts, the council is pretty vague when it comes to the thorny questions of how much will be cut, where the cuts will be imposed and which services will be dispensed with entirely.

The council says that these things are subject to imponderables but is absolutely certain no money can be saved by scrapping the ill-fated trams project!

Is the council implying no money from council tax payers goes towards funding this project?

A final thought. If they are so determined to cuts costs, will the subsidised facilities that the councillors avail themselves of be subjected to the same cost- cutting measures?

Cindy Simpson, Moredun, Edinburgh

Where were MSPs for great debate?

I WAS lucky enough to have been present at one of this week's most "momentous" occasions. By which I do not mean the Pope's visit to Scotland – rather the debate on Housing Strategy held at the Scottish Parliament yesterday morning. I saw an average of 15 MSPs present at any one time – and no more than 20 participating in total.

Based on this evidence, housing provision appears not to be the major national priority it is claimed to be for any of Scotland's political parties. Given the significant shortage of housing Scotland continues to suffer and the ongoing difficulties being experienced by Scotland's house-building industry, this is deeply regrettable.

For its part, the Scottish Building Federation is committed to working closely with colleagues at Homes for Scotland, the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, Shelter and other key stakeholders , to ensure that, between now and next year's Scottish Parliament elections, the provision of housing across all tenures becomes a major political priority for those elections and throughout the Parliament's next session.

Michael Levack, chief executive, Scottish Building Federation, Crichton's Close, Holyrood, Edinburgh

Beating retreat must be lucrative

I FIND it strange Euan Loudon has given up the post of Tattoo producer (News, September 10). He has obviously been offered a more lucrative post.

Veterans were against his securing the post of the Tattoo producer as we saw it as being a reward for his part in shredding our wonderful and revered regimental system.

At that time he was Commandant Scotland and after his part in merging and amalgamating the Scottish regiments he took great pride in the rebadging ceremony of the new Royal Regiment of Scotland.

This action did away with battalions, pipes and drums, the very substance of the Tattoo.

There is a saying that if you have seen one Tattoo you have seen them all. Different material is now difficult to find and Euan Loudon's short period as producer highlighted this with many repeats.

Major Bob Ritchie MBE, Livingston