SOCIAL workers, nursery staff, police, nursery staff (again), police (again), health visitors...all visited or discussed Liam Fee yet none were able to prevent his murder. (Evening Times, May 31)

If a country can be judged on how it protects its children, 21st century Scotland has failed. Accepting "plausible" explanations and allowing cases to "fall off the radar" are no longer acceptable excuses from the authorities.

If it is a case of limited resources and increasing caseloads, the Scottish Government should find the additional resources required to support the child protection system - urgently.

Brian Atkinson, Glasgow, by email

I'M sure I can't be the only motorist to note that the cost of fuel is sneaking up 1p per week, no doubt to pacify the oil companies in their hour of need!

Roy Elliott, by email

SO, council bosses have dismissed the proposed monorail system proposed by brothers Beckett (Evening Times May 31) in favour of the extensive or should that read (expensive) research carried out by their independent consultants.

They would rather go back in time for a tram than look to the future.

I did not know the council bosses were qualified engineers capable of making that decision but they clearly want to justify the money thrown at Aecom.

Les Trueman, Glasgow, by email

READING about the Kurdish refugee doctor who can't afford to pay for the training fees to work here (Evening Times May 31), I think a few hundred quid to secure a doctor who actually wants to treat NHS patients is a blooming bargain.

Regardless of where they were brought up.

John McCann, posted online

THE Kurdish doctor is right, the UK's policies regarding refugees/aslyum seekers and work visas/permits, is short sighted.

The UK currently fails to benefit from the useful resources that refugees/asylum seekers – many of whom are trained/qualified doctors and surgeons - can provide.

If we invested in promoting and enhancing the skills these people had, instead of allowing them to languish on the meagre benefits and in the poor housing that is so often their lot, it could contribute to their own recovery as victims of horrifying violence and terror, of which very few in the UK could even begin to comprehend, while it would inarguably benefit the UK, and NHS by utilizing their very valuable skills.

I think he's got a very lucid, informed understanding of the current shortcomings of the asylum system, and the current deficiencies in the NHS.

Eleanor Eastlake, posted online