MY current laptop and phone are around three years old. I can access every email sent or received in that time within a few seconds. I have deleted nothing in that period. I can access WhatsApp messages without any problem. My previous computers and mobile phones lie unloved in the bottom drawer of a filing cabinet. Before they were retired their contents were also backed up to CDs or USB memory sticks. I have retained the hard drive from a computer I last used in the mid-1980s. I am fairly confident I could retrieve emails, spreadsheets and word processor documents from more than 30 years ago should the need arise.
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It therefore beggars belief that a Scottish Government senior official has apparently deleted, on a daily basis, their electronic correspondence from the Covid crisis, vital evidence from a period in time which very clearly would be the subject of intense scrutiny at a later date. I also note that the word “relevant” has increasingly begun to feature in statements from the First Minister on this subject raising the obvious question – who will decide what information is “relevant” to the public inquiries?
These actions can only lead to suspicion by the public that the contents of these deleted messages would now be difficult, perhaps impossible, to justify to a public inquiry and that anything considered politically damaging will be simply regarded as not “relevant.”
The relatives of those lost to Covid deserve to at least know who decided what, when and especially why.
John Baird
Largs
AS a descendant of Caribbean slaves, the sickeningly entitled, spoiled brat behaviour of Bobby Dundas, unashamed descendent of slave owners, in removing a plaque linking Henry Dundas to slavery does not surprise me. Taking what is not his and refusing to give it back and causing damage along the way ... well, let’s say his family have form.
However, the behaviour of City of Edinburgh Council does disgust me. If some non-wealthy oik had engaged in criminal damage and also defied a very minimal agreement regarding a plaque – in and of itself a huge concession to wealth and privilege when any decent person is ashamed to look at the damn thing – they would not have been “in negotiation” with the council, as was reported in the Edinburgh Evening News. Would they?
Sickening behaviour on both sides, but vile obsequiousness on the part of the council.
Amanda Baker
Edinburgh
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IN response to Iain Black’s letter of October 28. With respect Iain, it is all very well if people have their mobility and can still travel to vaccination centres. My point was that I and many others don’t, and after contacting the number on my NHS letter I was led to believe that a house call would be made. I was told to contact them if I hadn’t heard in a couple of weeks, which I did, only to be told that they had NO RECORD of my call. I again had to repeat all my details, and when complete I asked when I was likely to hear from them and was told it could be at least 16 weeks.
I do not trust that when I phone in a month’s time, as I have been advised to do by a receptionist from my GP’s surgery, that I am not going to be told for a second time that they have NO RECORD of my call. This is totally unacceptable, especially when I am in the medically vulnerable category and it is extremely important that I get my boosters. So Iain, you may some day if unable to get to a vaccination centre find yourself in a not-so-favourable situation.
Anne Smart
Glasgow
I HAVE recently returned from two weeks in Lanzarote. Before I get into the main part of my letter, let me make an environmental comment. In the Canaries during my stay they closed their schools for four days because of the excessive heat. On mainland Spain in the north (San Sebastian and the Basque country), where temperatures are normally cooler, they were experiencing unprecedented heat for October.
Where I buy my National they kept all the publications till my return. Being obviously disappointed about Rutherglen, the only positive is that it generated much comment and opinion about the future of our independence struggle.
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Some analysis and thinking has arisen that we need more of. In particular the pieces of Robin McAlpine and Stephen Noon (I need not mention Lesley Riddoch and Gerry Hassan’s usual excellent columns). While we may not agree with all McAlpine and Noon say, it is necessary that they put it out in our movement for debate because we have now entered a new phase and stage of our struggle. I am still a strong believer that a crucial element of our fight is the force of activism and correct social disobedience.
Two final points: I was greatly pleased about the success of the Chain of Freedom event, and by the SNP decision about their tactic for the General Election and their campaign for going forward generally.
Bobby Brennan
Glasgow
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