AFFORDABLE HOMES

THE latest official statistics on homelessness in Scotland (Evening Times January 18), continue to show a downward trend in the number of people being assessed as homeless.

This is testament to the hard work of the housing sector and its focus on prevention.

But an increase in the number of households with children living in temporary accommodation – 3,174 at the end of September last year, a 13% increase on the corresponding number a year previously – is a real cause for concern.

Temporary accommodation is not ideal for any household but can be particularly disruptive for children.

These statistics show the need for a continued focus on providing enough good quality, affordable homes with the right type of support in place to ensure that every household in Scotland has a safe secure place to call home.

Annie Mauger, executive director, CIH Scotland

FRUIT FLY LIFESPAN

READING about the Prime Minister’s Brexit speech increasing the likelihood of a second referendum (Evening Times January 18), when the SNP pledged no second referendum for a lifetime, I failed to appreciate it was that of a fruit fly.

John Halley, by email

SINGLE MARKET

I AM left a little confused after Theresa May’s Lancaster House speech on Brexit.

In the run up to the EU referendum Ms May, campaigning on the Remain side, argued that leaving the single market would leave the UK economy ‘worse off’.

Now, only a few months later, Ms May is looking to take the UK out of that same single market. This leaves us with two obvious conclusions. Either Ms May was wrong in her pronouncements in the run up to the referendum, or she is taking us down a road which will leave the UK economy ‘worse off’.

The British public clearly have a right to know which one it is.

Alex Orr, by email

AMBULANCE DELAY

ON shopping in a well known supermarket in Buchanan Street I was shocked to see a lady unconscious on the floor following a fall and head injury.

Naturally staff were attending to her.

What I didn’t expect to hear was the ambulance had taken over half-an-hour and still hadn’t arrived when I left.

This is clearly a sign more money needs invested, not cut back from our frontline NHS.

Abuse of ambulances by non life threatening 999 callers is a huge problem. Until we respect the 999 system and don’t abuse it lives are being put at risk.

Jill Ferguson, by email