ROSS Greer claims that official statistics are being deliberately under-reported, teachers are being prevented from listing Covid contacts and have been told to ignore notifications to isolate (Those working in schools have a right to feel safe, November 20).

He claims that his evidence reveals that these are not isolated incidents, they are numerous and widespread and being implemented by senior officials.

These are very serious and alarming allegations, as they would mean the government is making decisions on schools based on incorrect statistics and preventing identification of contacts and self-isolation is endangering public health.

READ MORE: Ross Greer: Teachers working through Covid have a right to safety

These allegations are far too numerous and serious to be left lying on the record as anecdotal, as the result could be a large and unpredicted spread of the virus.

It is absolutely essential that, if he has not already done so, Ross Greer hands his information over to the government so that these senior officials who are allegedly bullying school staff, distorting official statistics and increasing the risk of Covid transmission in the community are identified and removed so that confidence can be restored to those working in schools and the wider public.

John Jamieson
South Queensferry

I REGULARLY watch First Minister’s coronavirus update and I agree wholeheartedly with the message that she keeps trying to get over to the public. Nicola always finishes by telling us FACTS. However, I do have an issue about face masks. I wish that Nicola or one of her health professionals (Jason Leitch and Gregor Smith) would impress on us that the masks must cover nose and mouth to be effective.

It’s alarming how many people use their mask to cover only the mouth. And sometime’s it’s on their chin!!

Elizabeth Kane
Dundee

I WAS shocked to hear Andrew Neill’s criticism of the Scottish Government’s record on poverty, comparing parts of Glasgow to sub-Saharan Africa, which was then parroted by Fraser Nelson on Politics Live. No doubt we’ll hear it again and again from Johnson’s lobby fodder in Scotland.

First, the stereotyping of those parts of Africa as a benchmark exclusively for poverty is, at best, casual and thoughtless racism.

Secondly, there are areas of poverty in every major town and city in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Indeed, rates of poverty are higher in Wales (23%) and England (22%) than in Scotland and Northern Ireland (both 19%). From Cardiff to Coventry, Belfast to Birmingham, food banks do not heed borders.

READ MORE: The last gasps of the ‘big beasts’ Brown and Adonis are coming too late

The common factor throughout the UK, and one over which the Scottish Government has absolutely no control, is the execrable Universal Credit – flawed in principle, often brutal in its execution, and the documented cause of poverty, mental ill-health and suicide for growing numbers in the UK.

One of the reasons for the situation being worse for our southern neighbours is that, through mitigation, Holyrood has effectively abolished the bedroom tax. The two-child cap has been offset for low-income families vis discretionary payments. Another boost will come from the Scottish Child Payment, described as a “game changer”.

The figures above come from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. Please don’t hesitate to say them loudly to the next Tory buffoon (tautology alert) who comes out with Neill’s drivel.

Eric Gillies
Edinburgh

YET again, promises from the Conservatives of jam in the future in terms of warship contracts for the Clyde. Where have we heard that vow before? This is where Scotland and England have a chasm in our worldly outlook.

Do we Scots want to be part of a nation that wants to continue gunboat diplomacy, spending billions on defence trying to bully other countries in the world to seeing it from our point of view? No. I think most Scots would agree that it’s time this wasteful defence budget was used to support jobs and putting food into the mouths of every child in this country!

As John Major said, it’s time the UK realised that it’s irrelevant on the world stage and we are in fact has-beens! It’s time Tiny Trump and his Cabinet realised that this empire is dead and definitely not striking back.

Steve Cunningham
Aberdeen

MALCOLM Rifkind says the devolved settlement is becoming out of date – he got that right, but he needs to face the music rather than hide his head in the sand regarding the real cause for concern in Scotland.

His House of Lords and the other chamber where he was a member are much despised in Scotland. The eternal exploitation and deep disregard of our interests and denial of the economic facts, and true contribution of Scotland to the well-being of the UK by Unionists, deserve to be highlighted by them and thereafter haunt them to the grave as the UK withers by their hand.

Tom Gray
Braco