I HAVE been a patient at my local South Side surgery for 50 years.

Last week I nearly had a heart attack in the reception area.

The reason .. I had requested two passport pictures to be signed by the doctor, in order that I could renew my passport.

I expected a nominal fee for the service, but shockingly I was told it would be £40 - yes, £40 for five minutes work.

Jim Gibbons Glasgow South

Tax solution

ONCE again more shame on how councillors are allowed to blatantly break their own rules by not paying their council tax (Evening Times, December 1).

Here is another opportunity for Nicola Sturgeon to prove she will have a "fairer society".

Simply make it mandatory that all council and government employees have their council tax automatically taken from their salary (where applicable) every month.

FMK East Kilbride

Duty is no help

THE Chancellor has done it again.

Less stamp duty for the well off but little for the man in the street.

Labour, the party of choice when Donald Dewar made history, left us in a mess.

We also had Blair and Bush going on a wild goose chase for non-existent WMDs and now former forces personnel have to live on charity.

Nicola Sturgeon will pull for Scotland.

Lastly, I must praise Glasgow Housing Association for giving vouchers to senior citizens.

Alexander Lindsay Glasgow

Meter checks

REGARDING gas meter overcharging, I'd like to know who does spot checks on meters, bills.

B Renton via email

Mary praise

IT'S great to hear that a statue to rent strike leader Mary Barbour is being taken forward (Evening Times, December 4).

She is a true Glasgow heroine who helped so many families suffering appalling poverty.

J Blake, Govan