I don’t know about you but when I use the Glasgow subway I like to see the driver. It reassures me that someone is up front driving and in control. Yet Strathclyde Passenger Transport is intent on replacing the current trains with driverless ones.

I know they run in other parts of the world but as far as progress and new inventions go this is not one I am convinced of. I want to know another responsible human being is in charge of my train as I sit reading and re-reading the adverts from Cessnock to Buchanan Street.

I am a regular user of our wee ‘clockwork orange’ and I love it. The smell, the efficiency, the general cleanliness, the speed. But driverless trains?

No it certainly is not one of my favourite new inventions. Hair straighteners? Brilliant. Microwave ovens? Excellent. Tubes of fake tan? Bring it on and, most appealing of all, has got to be this new ‘Sonic Wine Decanter’.  A device which turns cheap wine into classic vintage stuff through sonic rays. But driverless trains? No thanks.

We in Glasgow have one of the oldest subway systems in the world. At 119 years old only London and Budapest are older.

Instead of spending millions developing driverless trains I would love to see millions spent developing and expanding the network. The biggest fault with our subway system is how limited it is. Sure it would cost millions and maybe it wouldn’t be physically possible to reach some parts of the city but a much more expanded subway network reaching into the housing schemes would I think be a brilliant investment in cheaper, cleaner and much more environmentally friendly public transport.

There is also the question of jobs. Driverless trains will inevitably mean fewer jobs. But I think it means less security, less human interaction and less peace of mind as well.

So by all means let’s embrace science, progress and new inventions. That ‘Sonic Wine Decanter’ is going right to the top of my Christmas list. But I think we should knock driverless trains on the head. Or to be more metaphorically appropriate – leave them at the station.

Glasgow Times:

Why First Aid should be compulsory in all schools...

During my 25-year career with British Airways we had to complete an annual training course in Safety Procedures and Aviation Medicine, and First Aid in case of any emergencies. It kept us up to date and ready to assist if, God forbid, we ever encountered serious problems.

However we often had to intervene to administer emergency First Aid to passengers suffering heart attacks, asthma attacks, epileptic fits, panic attacks, fainting episodes, and other breathing and anxiety problems. Our First Aid skills literally saved lives. That is why I have always been a strong advocate of compulsory emergency first aid being taught in every school.

Even a basic First Aid course could save lives and equip children with important life skills for the rest of their lives. That is why I was very pleased to read of a Private Members Bill being debated at Westminster to deliver exactly what I believe should be in every school – compulsory emergency First Aid.

It was discussed last Monday and will return for further discussion on January 29 next year. It already has cross-party support and I hope it gets passed. It won’t apply to Scotland’s schools but surely such a measure would compel the Scottish Government to follow suit. Even if this Bill is unsuccessful I believe the Scottish Government should show leadership on this issue and make basic Emergency First Aid a compulsory part of the secondary school curriculum.