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There's a brand new car park at the ERI, but the same old parking charges. So is this, in reality, a tax on the sick and their relatives?

Glad to see the Scottish Government acknowledging, for once, that front-line NHS care is more important than free parking. Yet, to provide free parking at the Western, St John's and all over the country, they have had a deep impact on front-line NHS care. The Western is being forced to outsource catering in order to cut costs, because it no longer has parking revenue to pay for facilities maintenance. The "free hospital parking" pledge was a piece of populist nonsense.

Duncan in Edinburgh

PFI projects have delivered lots of schools and hospitals on time, on budget and fit for purpose, so they are a good thing in many ways. Charging 7 a day for parking, though, is not a good thing and needs to be looked at as soon as the contract allows it.

reincarnated, Edinburgh

Now to the serious issue. I don't have a problem paying a nominal charge for car parking to cover "running costs" but that is clearly not the case here. Having recently had to visit a relative recovering from a serious condition, the biggest gripe I have is that visiting in the afternoon is a nightmare, having to wait for up to 30 minutes to get into the car park because it's full.

Hong Kong Fooey

Charging for car parking on what was once a green-belt site is a licence to print money at the expense of the unfortunate. I've spent hundreds of pounds in this car park as a member of my family became ill – money that was being taken at an already bad time in our lives.

TPE, Edinburgh

Council tenants in the city, meanwhile, are to be offered 4,000 to move to smaller homes, with families on the waiting list.

Good idea. I would be more impressed if the leases offered to the new tenants of the larger properties included a "downsize clause" so this need not happen in the future.

JulesF, Kirkliston

Long overdue. However, surely a cheaper rent should be enough of an incentive. But then again if you're on housing benefit you'll be getting your rent paid regardless of the fact that your house might have four empty rooms. The government should have introduced legislation a long time ago.

wild wadi, Greater Weegie Land

It costs money to move house, so out-of-pocket expenses should be met. Tenants whose homes are demolished are given resettlement grants, why not those who move to smaller accommodation? It's only fair, as they are being asked to move too.

Linmal, Livingston

4,000 to downsize? Unbelievable. And they always say that there is no money to upgrade housing. Yes, there has to be an initiative to give the homes to people who need them. I had a friend with four kids who waited over a year for a home big enough for them, while the council paid treble the rent for them to stay elsewhere.

d smith, edinburgh

I've nothing against these people, I'm sure some of them do actually work, but this is simply not right. I work to support myself and, as well as the mortgage, I pay the full (exorbitant) council tax for the pittance I receive in services.

Oli, Edinburgh