WE learn that the Forth Road Bridge, one of the key infrastructure bridges enabling north/south travel on the east coast, is to be closed for some considerable time (Forth Road Bridge closure will have huge impact on Scottish economy, The National, December 5), with a significant negative impact on the local and wider east coast economies. Companies enticed to relocate to the area because of the transport advantages of the bridge must now be regretting that move.

The run-up to Christmas is a crucial time for some firms. Will some enterprising company now step in to fill the gap as an interim measure, with two appropriately sized ferries to serve the North and South Queensferry slips? Calmac maybe? They already operate a short ferry crossing using slips from Colintraive to the Isle of Bute.

The Forth ferries could be restricted to commercial vehicles and buses only, given the economic and social importance of each one to the economy and communities, or have one ferry for cars and another for commercial vehicles and buses. Hovercraft could be used for passenger only traffic in addition to the two ferries.

Re-routing vehicles on the long detour across the Kincardine and Clackmannanshire bridges is not the ideal long-term solution as this will cause bottlenecks and put additional strain on the structure of these bridges, especially Kincardine bridge.

Drivers and pedestrians (who also use buses) should be given a choice. Given that the closure of the bridge was not the fault of the taxpayers, any ferry/hovercraft crossing fares should be heavily discounted or subsidised by the Scottish Government to reflect this.

William C McLaughlin
Biggar

SO Transport Scotland are looking around for ferries to cross the Forth and have approached Western Ferries. Let’s play Fantasy Ferries on the back of an envelope.

They are looking for “a ferry”. Suppose one Western Ferry carried 40 vehicles each way over the Forth and the journey took 20 minutes. With turnaround that would be 80 vehicles an hour. Suppose they run – always full – for 16 hours a day. That would be 1,280 vehicles a day. The Forth Road Bridge carries about 70,000 vehicles a day so that would be about – well, a bit less than two per cent of the Forth Road Bridge’s normal traffic.

So a bit more than 50 fully loaded ferries should do it. As long as you can multiplestack several-score ferries docking each hour.

Kenneth DM Barr
Dunoon


Holding DWP to account for deaths

YOUR report on the tragic deaths of benefit claimants mentioned a coroner in London who made out a prevention of future deaths report – the first of its kind – when a seriously ill claimant committed suicide after being controversially found fit for work via the now notorious Work Capability Assessment. (Vigil held in Edinburgh for people killed by Tories benefits cuts, The National, December 4)

There is a new Bill currently going through the Scottish Parliament titled Inquiries into Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths etc (Scotland) Bill.

Sheriffs in Scotland will have the power to issue “recommendations” on prevention of future deaths, and to require all parties to explain what steps have been taken to address these recommendations. If that is not possible, the parties involved would have to explain why. Strangely though, these recommendations will not be compulsory.

I’m wondering if this Bill could help representatives of deceased benefit victims in subsequently prosecuting the DWP for corporate manslaughter, or corporate homicide as its called in Scotland?

Organisations – including government departments – are guilty of corporate manslaughter/homicide if the way in which their activities are managed or organised causes a person’s death, and amounts to a gross breach of a relevant duty of care owed by the organisation to the deceased.

To make matters worse, the Tories are about to introduce a new Work and Health Programme to replace the disastrous Work Programme – a programme that actually managed to sanction more people than it got back to work!

The new Work and Health Programme will treat well people as ill, and ill people as well, so you can expect more controversial medical decisions by tick-box practitioners who are not medically qualified, more sanctions and more premature benefit deaths – including suicides.

Andrew Forsyth
Glasgow


FELICITY Monk (Climate change diary, The National, December 3) makes a good case for giving up ‘Scotland’s’ oil. One solution she and others may be unaware of is the contribution that growing hemp could make to meeting Scotland’s climate targets and replacing oil.

People think hemp will not grow here though it did in medieval times as was shown at digs in Fife and at Soutra. Hemp is a fibre crop that grows faster than trees and can be made into board as well as paper and cloth. So more trees could be left to capture carbon.

The seeds are edible particularly when dehusked and provide oil when pressed.

Currently complex Home Office Licence conditions deter farmers from growing the crop. Perhaps the Scottish Government should pay a small subsidy to farmers, for a few years, to encourage hemp cultivation here.

Linda Hendry
Falkirk


IS sinne luchd-ionnsachadh Gàidhlig agus tha sinn ag iarraidh cothroman artaigilean a leughadh am broinn a’ phàipear naidheachd nàiseanta. Is i Gàidhlig pàirt cudromach de chultur na h-Alba.

We are writing to suggest that The National considers having a regular column in Gaelic. This could be of interest to both native speakers and learners like ourselves. We also hope that other readers will join us in writing letters in Gaelic.

An cuidich sibh sinne, mas e ur toil e? Tapaph leibh.

From members of Adult Beginners Gaelic Class,
Tollcross Community Centre, Edinburgh


I LOOK forward very much to hearing the new “theme tune for Scotland”, commissioned by Visit Scotland (‘Goosebumps’ music captures the beauty of national scenery, The National, December 4), because I have, for many years, campaigned for a Scottish national anthem which is a) not that cringe-making dirge Flower of Scotland and, b) is musically uplifting, noble, and timeless.

This would not be difficult to achieve – we have brilliant composers and songwriters a-plenty, from Craig Armstrong to Dougie Maclean, and many others.

I still favour Scots Wha’ Hae, with its impeccable pedigree (when played with a jauntier tempo it is a match for the best, eg La Marseillaise), and I have a recording by the BBC Scottish Orchestra – which BBC Scotland never play – to prove it. Nevertheless I would be happy with the outcome of a serious competition (though not tabloid-run, when the ‘popular’ vote would be manipulated to result in Stop Your Ticklin’ Jock or somesuch Lauderish drivel being chosen).

We are within touching distance of our historic destiny. This is the moment for the Scottish Government to commission a magnificent Scottish National Anthem. I was a bit alarmed to hear the First Minister say, at the recent SNP conference, that “our national identity does not depend on flags or anthems”. I understand what she means, but I respectfully disagree:– of course prosperity, fairness and national self-respect are the major issues, but graphic and emotional identity with your country are terrifically important (hands up those who are proud of Scotland’s latest grotesque football strip).

Just look around at ‘proper’ countries: their flags and national anthems are central to their identity. Those who curl their lip at this should have a word with the French, Norwegians etc etc. The ‘Butcher’s Apron’ is now rarely seen in Scotland, a hugely significant indicator of where the Scottish people are at. We already have the glorious azure Saltire , a ‘world-class’ symbol. It is time to take the next step towards true nationhood.

David Roche
Coupar Angus


MANY National readers have commented on the speech made by Hilary Benn in parliament on Wednesday, focusing mainly on the applause that it received without reprimand from the speaker. I should like to make a few points regarding the speech itself.

On a phone-in programme on Radio Scotland on Thursday morning, a caller described the performance as “widow Twanky on speed”. I thought this an apt description, as it was indeed delivered in an arm-waving, finger-pointing, histrionic style, old-fashioned and dated befitting the chamber in which it was made.

The content, I found, lacked logic or intelligence. A pompous speech from a pompous opportunist.

Terry Keegans
Beith


WHAT is Mhairi Black doing? (Why has Cameron taken us to war? Vainglory. Total and utter ego, The National, December 5) How could she be so unwise as to use logic, quote facts, and cite expert opinion on the Syrian crisis? Surely she knows that the Great British Public only respond to emotional gush (harking back to the glory days of WW2). Oh, half-truths and outright lies as well, they’re essential if you want to succeed in politics!

Derek Ball
Bearsden


AT FMQs I was quite taken aback by the Labour leader deciding to deride Scotland’s performance on reducing carbon emissions immediately prior to the First Minister’s attending the environmental summit in Paris, even though it seems to be accepted in the wider world that Scotland is leading in many aspects of emission reduction and has a good story to tell in Paris.

Ms Dugdale’s attempt to accuse the FM of adding to carbon emissions by flying to Paris was rather undone when the FM pointed out that she would be going to Paris by train.

It is painful to listen to the standard of so-called scrutiny coming from the opposition parties in Scotland and it almost makes it understandable why many Unionist commentators like to describe Scotland as being a one-party state. Improvement in the performance of the opposition parties is necessary but it is difficult to see where that improvement is going to come from given the poor quality of leadership.

Tom Crozier
Ayr