for winter time.
Biodegradable Chewing Gum?
On a recent evening I was looking down on Princes Street from a second
floor window. It was not long after the Hogmanay festivities, and at first I thought that
the street was covered with hailstones. This seemed odd, because it was quite a mild
evening — for winter time.
I then realised that the street was covered with chewing gum deposited from the mouths of the tens of thousands of visitors who had thronged the street. Similarly, where several hundreds must surely assemble from time to time near the Usher Hall, the paving is so covered. One can find the way to a school playground by following the gradual intensification of the chewing gum on the pavements.
Perhaps sending men in rockets into space at the cost of tens or hundreds of millions of pounds (more likely to be dollars) is a useful practice for extending our knowledge of the universe, and cloning sheep will also have beneficial results - I don’t condemn these practices out of hand, because one never knows what today’s experiments, perhaps even apparently pointless ones, may lead to in 100 years time.
The point was well made some years ago in a Parliamentary Standing Committee during the discussion for a Private Member’s Bill to limit very strictly the purposes for which vivisection could be used as a research tool. It was noted by a member that no-one knew that certain experiments early in the 19th Century would eventually lead to the discovery of insulin.
It is clear that great discoveries my be made in the most haphazard manner. But perhaps a few thousand pounds could be offered as a prize to encourage someone to find a recipe for speedily biodegradable chewing gum, I suppose the risk is that it might biodegrade in the mouth of the chewer. So much the better!
If you take anyone who suffers from vertigo to the new Museum of Scotland,
you need to k
now that
there is a closed-in lift tucked away at the rear. Stairs have spaces as risers and a
decorative gap between the treads and the wall; the obvious lifts are glass walled and the
less said about the expanded metal floor above the Newcomen engine the better!
The promise of lunch got my friend to the Tower restaurant across a narrow bridge (which she swore vibrated) with her eyes tightly shut.
Having braved all the vertiginous views down to the basement, she deserved a good lunch and the restaurant certainly provided it. At first sight the menu seems expensive, but the small dish section is ideal for lunch and not too ruinous. The glass of house wine looked a bit small, but turned out to be the standard 125 ml in an extra tall glass. Service was smart and helpful, one pudding and two spoons suggested to absolve our consciences and there was no pressure to eat up and go.
Polo Fusion, 503 Lawnmarket Tel: 622 7722
This is an owner occupied restaurant, nearly opposite the roundabout at the top of the Lawnmarket, with the most interesting food, beautifully cooked and served.
Starters cost about £4 -£5.50, main courses £10 - £13.50 with the odd one a bit more, desserts £3 - £4 and coffee £1.50.
There is a vegetarian option for each course e.g. “Grilled Asparagus with Soft Polenta, Marscapone Cheese and Asian Pesto” as a starter and “Wild Mushroom Risotto with Squash, Avocado and Apricot Salsa, Fried Wontons, Wok-fried Vegetables, Lemongrass and Cheese Curd” as a main dish. Non-vegetarians are offered equally interesting combinations and flavours.
It’s a small place, so best to book.
..... to separate the food department in M&S from the women’s fashion by a whole city block?
What shopper, laden with bags of produce, trails up Princes Street to cast a curious eye over the ladies’ clothing department ? Especially when the re-sited area looks so cold and uninviting from the street. Previously, one had a little walk round, often making an unplanned purchase, before descending to the delights of the basement food department. Jenners was next door, the Woollen Mill, Bargain Books and the Waverley Market handy - the whole section was interesting, near the station and with adjacent bus stops.
OK there is a bus stop at the door of the new fashion shop, one could get off and look round before going along the street - but who does? I can see it’s bigger, has probably more stock and more room to move about in, but it’s not welcoming. Recently I came down from George Street, unencumbered with shopping and thought I would see what was in for Spring. At the door I paused, it all looked far away, pale yellow and grey inside - not interesting or attractive - there were few customers to be seen and this potential one turned and went for her bus.
Perhaps gender equality now means that men do more of the food shopping and browse in the gents department on their way in, or their female partners pick up the odd pair of socks for them, but I do wonder what this move has done for sales.
At 94 my mother
is very frail and easily tired. Although she enjoys a short ride in the car she is
not advised to go out in the winter cold, so when the renewal form for her Orange Badge
arrived in January she was not happy at the idea of trailing to a photographers for a new
‘mug shot’.
I returned the application form, explaining the situation, and to Mother’s great relief a new Badge arrived without the need for a new photograph.
It’s not too unusual for luggage to arrive damaged after a flight,
most of us have either had the experience ourselves or know someone who has. In the
past 18 months two of my overseas guests hav
e
had their bags ruined and had to claim compensation from the airlines involved.
In both cases, despite showing the damage and filling in all the forms at the time, they would have received nothing had I not pursued their claims for them long after their return home. How many more foreign visitors are deprived of legitimate compensation through lack of time in this country, unfamiliarity with the system, lack of ‘complaining vocabulary’ and what seems to be a dilatory ‘let’s wait until they forget about it and go away’ attitude on the part of the airlines’ insurers.
Genetically modified (GM), or transgenic, organisms have reached the
headlines, but how many people understand what they are and why there is so much interest
in them?
This short article will give a brief explanation of GM organisms, and highlight a few of
the pros and cons of the technology.
Plants and animals are made up of lots of cells. In each cell there are
many genes and each of these carries the information for the production of a protein. Each
organism has its own set of genes which dictate what that organism will be and how it will
look. Some genes control features which we recognise, for example, eye colour or leaf
shape. 
For centuries breeders have been mixing (“cross-breeding”) animals or plants to obtain desired qualities, for example, lean meat or the colour of a flower. However breeding works both ways. It may improve the flavour but may reduce the resistance of a plant to a particular disease. It can take a long time to obtain a plant with a combination of desired features.
Where do GM or transgenic organisms fit in? The production of transgenic organisms has taken breeding one step further. Instead of crossing hundreds of varieties of plants to obtain a particular feature you can take a specific plant which already has many desired features and add just one more. By this method it is possible to add genes from totally unrelated species.
Why would we want to alter our crops? It is imperative that our crops can tolerate extreme weather conditions or be resistant to pests to obtain a good yield. With changing climatic conditions this may be the means by which we can ensure that our crops can keep up. Plants can be modified to tolerate extremes in conditions. It is theoretically possible to introduce genes which code for antifreeze proteins into plants. Such proteins prevent the formation of damaging ice crystals, so that they become more tolerant to frost. Recently two genes have been identified which can confer high salt tolerance, and another gene has been isolated which may increase drought tolerance. The scope for the use of this technology is clearly vast.
To select for a particular feature by conventional breeding methods can be like finding a needle in a haystack. There may not be any selective pressure for a particular required feature. How do you, for example, select potatoes for better crisp making qualities, or barley for better beer making qualities? The production of GM plants allows the rapid introduction of a known feature, thereby dramatically improving the probability of creating a product with the desired feature.
To date, however, much of the effort has been concentrated on the production of herbicide resistant plants. The consumption of the genes is not a concern. After all, we consume millions of genes in our food everyday, and to date none of us have turned “cabbage looking”. We also break down proteins, but it is the toxins, herbicides and pesticides which we ingest which are of concern. However, that is not an issue confined solely to the GM market and perhaps the current levels of herbicide or pesticide usage should be addressed. (The other extreme is, of course, organic farming, but if all of Europe wanted to buy organic produce then we would need the area of South America to support it.)
People should be given a choice about the food they consume and, in agreement with the view of Maeve Robertson (who wrote in the November issue of Counter Points), there should be appropriate labelling of GM foods. However, at the centre of this issue is the problem of pollen release from GM crops and the potential for cross contamination with non-transgenic crops or wild varieties. Pollen can be carried far and wide. It is very difficult to contain, so unless you breed male sterile or non-flowering varieties (which is totally impractical if you need the seed of the crop), then it is likely that pollen will escape. This then has the potential to cross pollinate non-transgenic crops, which will in turn remove the choice from our shelves.
Finally I would like to finish on a slightly different note. GM plants are not novel. They have been used successfully for research purposes in controlled conditions for over a decade. However, one of the more recent developments has been the use of plant viruses. Plant viruses accumulate millions of copies inside every infected cell. Such a virus can be manipulated to produce vast quantities of a desired protein inside a plant, which is relatively easy to purify. It is then possible to prepare human or veterinary medical products, including vaccines, from plants rather than from animals. Although still in its infancy, this technology has the potential to become involved in the production of various diagnostic or therapeutic proteins.
This is a very, very complex issue involving genetics, health, environment, survival of species, industry, scientists, media, politicians, retailers. The radio and TV thrive on sound bites and conflict amongst politicians and spokesmen, who usually have their own wider agenda and purpose. Scientists are drawn in but their words are misinterpreted, selected, distorted or clearly misquoted to suit the journalist.
The public are confused by the different policies of countries, manufacturers and retailers with regard to content and labelling. Information is necessary for choice.
Whilst applying the precautionary principle ministers and local authorities need a clear understanding of any risk to health, to species selection, to agricultural safeguards, to commercial interests and to benefits.
The problem is to allow long term, safe and independent complex research, with transparent objectives, in many fields, to continue in an atmosphere without profit and without confusion of interests!
You may like to read the Scottish experience, Engineering Genesis, edited by Donald and Ann Bruce, published by Erskine, 1998, at £12.99, 185 3835706.
Sadly it appears that Julie Shephard, of Consumers’ Association, was nominated, but not accepted, for membership of the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processors. A balance of interests is essential.
Why should the Food Standards Agency be funded by charges on food outlets? Is MAFF funded by agriculture, food and fisheries? We are all consumers of food - taxation is the proper source of funds.
The cheapest way to pay is by Monthly Direct Debit. From the Which? factsheet available in February 1999 (from Gas Consumers Council, 86 George Street EDINBURGH EH2 3BU (226 6523)) thirteen suppliers to Scotland have not changed their tariffs over the year. This is generally reassuring. However Eastern Natural Gas has increased its prices and removed itself from its advantageous position for one level of consumption.
London Electricity, Midlands Gas, North Wales Gas and SWEB have joined the suppliers available in Scotland, but offer no advantage in price.
Sterling Gas have also joined the suppliers available and their prices are now the lowest at one level of consumption.
You have to ring Calortex for their tariff. Edinburgh has their lowest tariff. Beware - they quote rates without VAT!
The most significant savings are for consumers who use very little gas, because they need not pay the standing charge (£27 with Scottish Gas).
The cheapest suppliers for Scotland, by monthly direct debit, in February 1999 are:
The annual savings, by comparison with Scottish Gas, decrease from £27 per annum at zero to £15 at 3890 kWh per annum. The savings then increase to £25 at 15080 kWh per annum and £42 at 24250 kWh per annum. In percentage terms these savings decrease, with increasing consumption, to about 12% of annual costs, by comparison with Scottish Gas.
Prices are guaranteed for one year by Energi from Norweb and by Northern Electric & Gas.
Meter readings are said to be six monthly for Scottish Gas, Sterling Gas and Northern Electric & Gas, two quarters out of four for Energi from Norweb and eighteen monthly for Calortex.
In a Consumers’ Association survey of their members, published in November Which?, there was higher satisfaction with Calortex and Northern Electric & Gas than with British (Scottish) Gas and slightly lower satisfaction with Energi from Norweb.
Since March, residents of the postcode areas beginning EH have been able to choose their supplier. The main effect is on price since suppliers have their own tariffs for annual standing charge and for unit of consumption.
Changing supplier has no effect on your supply! The meter and the quality of the electricity stay the same. You cannot even influence the generating source - hydro energy, carbon burning,or nuclear - in spite of the various company names. The competition is only in payment, limited services and cheap sources. ScottishPower is responsible to maintain supplies anyway. An emergency number is given by your supplier.
All suppliers must have codes of practice for the elderly or sick and provide free services to assist people with sight or hearing difficulty.
The Office of Electricity Regulation (OFFER) on 0800 451451 sent advice, details of the suppliers for this area and the likely savings for a typical consumer (3,300 kWh per annum) for the different methods of payment. This took 10 days. Their Electricity Prices Compared sheets are all dated 21/01/98 but this looks unlikely.
OFFER warns against signing anything which may invite a salesman to you home. You could lose the seven day period to cancel a contract without penalty.
Usually you change supplier in about 28 days, by signing with the new supplier, without any penalty. A fixed term contract could involve an early termination fee, unless you are moving home.
We are particularly grateful to Ken Frere, on behalf of the National Federation, who has distributed the detailed tariffs for the companies. Only with this information can your cheapest company be identified.
Monthly Direct Debit is the cheapest method of payment. Your cheapest supplier depends on your annual electricity consumption. Three suppliers have a higher unit charge for the first units. Seeboard has a particularly high unit charge for the first 730 kWh per annum, but a negative annual standing charge.
The savings, against ScottishPower, are £8 pa at 1,280 kWh per annum and £27 pa at a more typical 3,300 kWh per annum.
In percentage terms these represent
7% at 1280 kWh per annum, increasing to 10% at 3,300 kWh per annum, and 14% at 71,000 kWh
per annum.
Independent Energy UK Ltd are also cheapest for the typical usage standard quarterly tariff. East Midlands Electricity are cheapest for the typical daytime usage on a two rate meter.
You will be interested to know the length of the contract or the length of notice for any tariff change, and how frequently the meter is read.
Which? (February, 1999) found that companies often gave quotations over the phone without VAT, though their brochures were clear. Some quotations were for standard quarterly rates when monthly direct debit had been requested. Some were geared for gas and not electricity, and some were more interested in giving gas and electricity dual fuel quotations. They warn that whereas you can cancel a direct debit anytime, the company must also agree to cancel a continuous authorised credit card transaction.
Companies - please stop giving prices without VAT!
If you really wish to have gas and electricity from one supplier there may be a financial inducement to change. Monthly Direct Debit is always the cheaper method of payment. There are likely to be lots of possible suppliers, but any savings will depend on your usage of gas and of electricity.
Comparing Scottish Gas and Scottish Power - Scottish Gas Energy Plus has a cheaper standing charge and cheaper unit rate for electricity than ScottishPower. They guarantee cheaper electricity prices than your local electricity supplier until 2001. For 21000 kWh gas and 3300 kWh electricity per annum, the saving by Energy Plus against the two suppliers is £36 or 6.2%.
ScottishPower Premier Plus has a higher standing charge for gas than Scottish Gas, but an annual rebate for the joint account. It has a lower unit charge and is advantageous over Scottish Gas above 1140 kWh gas per annum (from 1st April). The saving, at 21000 kWh gas and 3300 kWh electricity per annum, for Premier Plus against the two suppliers is £37 or 6.4%.
Scottish Gas have an offer for electricity users with bills lower than £101. Call 0845 604 2001, quoting LUl.
Please tell us of your experience with the new companies or with joint accounting.
The Herald & Post had an article about 3000 refrigerators available for £25 from Fridgesavers, Newhaven Road. It is true! However they initially failed to mention the restrictions - to those on benefit or only in receipt of state pension. Ring 554 2532. Ask about size, capacity and energy efficiency.
In a press release sent to us by the office in Edinburgh the European Commission considers that the abolition of intra-EU duty free will not have a significant negative impact on employment overall, but that an extension would create uncertainty and disadvantage normal retailers and other means of transport. Any short-term negative effects on employment are expected to be more than offset by long-term job creation, especially if the national tax revenue currently lost was used to reduce the tax burden on labour.
It urges Member States to counteract possible short-term regional or social difficulties with the appropriate Structural Fund instruments. There is also room for developing an additional specially-tailored EU financial measure to tackle specific and local problems were the Council of ministers to request it. Any further extension of duty-free would only delay adjustment and damage operators which have already started to adapt.
During the transitional period, duty free sales increased by 61% rather than decreased. Most travellers will continue to shop during waiting time, in Member States with lower excise duties. Price advantages are often small, other than tobacco.
Consequential reductions in social security contributions could create 20,000 jobs.
The Commission proposes to extend for yet another ten years the allowance of American units to be used for labelling, in addition to international (SI) units. Initially this transitional period was due to end in 1989 and was then extended to 1999. It is now proposed to end in 2009!
The only problem is in the American market, where labelling is allowed in standard American and international systems. The reason given is that two labels, notices and packaging would be needed.
After 20 years this is unacceptable as a reason to delay sensible, cheaper marketing within Europe. Separate supplies into and within the American market should bear their own extra costs and confusion.
Not too much to report on this front at present, although of course to those for whom an AbFab WWWWWW is important, the news that they intend to set up shop in St Andrew’s Square Bus Station will be welcome. For myself I will be happy if we get a better bus station out of the deal, it’s not my sort of shop.
Much more imminent of course is the intended arrival of IKEA at Straiton,
just next to Costco. The work is already well advanced and is due to open in November. 
I am pleased to see from the steelwork on site that it will be a two storey layout, similar to Birmingham. Having visited both that one and the single storey branch at Gateshead I much preferred the former and was indeed disappointed with Gateshead. IKEA demands exploration, the paths are predetermined to ensure you travel past most of the goods on the way (although their are some occasional shortcuts which you can learn) but it is more visually rewarding to follow the track and the extra storey does add interest. A bit like the Ghost Train of old, you never know what is going to demand your attention next.
Hardly new, as it has been around for some considerable time, but interesting nonetheless. Like Costco you require a card to gain entry, but also like Makro this card is free. The sole purpose of the card seems to get you through the door, it is never inspected in detail and plays no part in the transaction.
How you go about obtaining a card is, like much of Sher’s, obscure. In theory you are a tradesperson, but it is difficult to visualise some of their customers as directors of top companies, my own entry was based on already ahving a Makro and Costco card and filling in a form describing my business, but I am told that this will no longer gain you entry.
In theory it is of course a trade outlet but as almost every item bears a little green sticker, showing the ex-VAT price, which is difficult to remove I imagine that the main activity of their “trade” customers is to spend the day attempting to remove these tags at their shop and replacing them with their own higher priced tags. More than a full time job.
That said, the range of goods at Sher’s is different to any other available in town, the nearest comparator is with the range of mainly Asian hardware stores which sell a few clothes as well. It is a bit of a Bazaar, ranging from tools, minor electric and electronic goods, tapes and CD’s (mainly compilations - none of the current hits or classics), electrical fittings etc, a wide range of light fittings, occasional (somewhat different) minor furniture, car accessories (general), Bathroom fittings, some clothing, soft furnishings, a wide range of toys, gardening bits & pieces, a wide range of cookware, janatorial goods and flooring (wood and vinyl tiles).
It covers a wide area and may be a source of that odd bit of hardware which you just can’t get anywhere else. Prices are often keen, although you do have to remember to add the VAT, and do beware - if your total bill is less than £20 (excluding VAT) then a 10% surcharge is imposed automatically at the till. So be sure you want more than that “wee thing” if you want the best value and remember £19 of goods costs you £20.90 whereas £20’s worth only costs £20. (Tax apart!)
(But when I was in for lithium batteries on 24 April, this didn’t happen so maybe the practice has changed) The batteries by the way cost £1.20 +VAT each for CR 2025/2032 which were more like £3 in nearby Boots!!
All in all a useful and different type of store from the mainstream shopping precincts.
My wife, when shopping in Asda at The Jewell, called in at the restaurant for a coffee. It was available either in a cup or a mug. The self dispense machine was marked for use by mugs, so she enquired as to where she could obtain a cup instead.
“From the same dispense point” she was told “the cups and mugs hold exactly the same quantity, but some customers prefer a mug - maybe they think they are getting a little extra!”
To be fair, the price for either was identical, but it only goes to show how gullible we all are at times!
I know the airlines have been known to do a little bit of overbooking in the past, but this recent advert in the Scotsman property supplement, offering an exclusive development of 12 luxurious apartments with “14 already sold” is surely stretching things a bit too far! Timeshare in Corstorphine perhaps, or can you grab a cage across the road?
Some friends of mine recently featured in an article in the “Financial Mail on Sunday” about alternative telephone providers. The bones of their contribution were that not only did they hope to save money by their move from BT, but the ScottishTelecom’s radio link service enabled them to have two addtional telephone numbers, on the same line. They could also have a Distinctive Ring pattern enabling them to use one number as a business line. Given that they were in process of starting up a driving school this would be an economic way to distinguish their business calls from domestic, for which latter their BT number was transferred.
Thus equipped, they had a multitude of posters, leaflets and business cards printed with this new number and distributed them accordingly. Then one day there was no service available (on any number) then another day, and eventually they were without a service for three 24 hour periods within a couple of months. On each occasion it was either snowing or with heavy winds which is apparently enough to dislodge the signal from Blackford Hill to Morningside. They stuck with ST nonetheless as their monthly bills were substantially cheaper than chez BT.
Two weeks ago however their service was again interrupted, and remains so 12 days later. When it was first reported it “was probably their telephone instrument that was to blame” according to an unsympathetic and unapologetic teletubbie on the ST service line. A little later, on ringing back, it appeared that “one or two other customers had complained, so maybe it is something to do with our service.”
It was pointed out that the business was suffering as clients and potential customers were unable to get in touch to arrange lessons. ScottishTelecom then agreed to mount a recorded message redirecting contacts to his pager, so that at least he could phone them back. This has still not been done after eleven days, despite reminders! After two days ST contacted him to say his service had been restored, but this was on a new number, which still remains the only basis of service.
As BT have subsequently introduced a similar “distinctive ring service” (£20 pa against ST - free) he indicated that he might well take his business back to BT, but alas he would be unable to transfer his business number, or so it currently seems, leaving all his stationery to be reprinted and redistributed. The saga continues, with compensation now being sought (and probably accepted by ST). But be warned - if you need a service that will be only infrequently interrupted, it is probably wise to steer clear of radio-link services, such as ScottishTelecom and now Atlantic Telecom are offering in Edinburgh.
ST also offer an “indirect” service (as do several others) using a line rented from BT but allowing you to pay your call charges to the other company. Alas it seems you cannot get the distinctive ring service by this means.
The government is if nothing else consistent in setting up the FSA,
it intends to have two ¾ the Foods Standards Agency and the Financial Services
Authority. I am sure you have heard the old joke about the Monopolies Commsion (yes -why
is there only one?) maybe that’s why it has now been renamed the Competition
Commision. Anyway it was the Financial one that your Treasurer and myself took ourselves
off to meet at its recent seminar in Edinburgh.
It was hosted by Brian Walden and attended by Howard Davies, FSA chairman, along with a panel of others, namely Peter Clarke, business columnist of the Edinburgh Evening News, Christine Farnish, FSA Director of Consumer Relations, Sheena Westwood, an Independent Finacial Adviser in Scotland and Roger Bright, Head of Supervision at the Personal Investment Authority. The seminar was intended to get the FSA out to meet the people around the country, as one of three current “Town Meetings” but part also of an ongoing programme.
Those attending were also given a copy of the following material:
Single copies of these can also be ordered by contacting the FSA’s “leaflets hotline” on 0800 917 3311.
The Director. Howard Davies Christine Farnish, Consumer Relations
There was a brief introduction to the meeting by Howard Davies and the other panelists then introduced themselves briefly. The early part of the question and answer session (which is what it mainly was) seemed to be answered alsmost exclusively by messrs Bright, Westwood and Davies and it was a while before the Chairman, Brian Walden, took cognisance of this and involved those on the right wing (of the platform) in the responses. At one point it seemed that Peter Clarke might as well have stayed at home. This imbalance reflected the audience’s concern with problems within their own area of interest, which inevitably gave Sheena Westwood, the IFA, the chance to dominate the proceedings, which she handled well.
Despite its “public authority status” FSA will in practice be funded by the financial services industry itself, not government (as the taxpayer is sometimes loosely referred to) although what the difference will be in the end is not clear as it is the consumer who gives the FS companies their income out of which they in turn will pay their fees. The budget for the FSA is currently £150m p.a. Penalties levied on providers will by the way simply be recycled to the FSA to offset their costs, and thereby reduce their levies. It is estimated that these “fines” will provide less than 5% of FSA income.
Its remit includes regulation of most financial service, and they will control Tied Advisers as well as Independent Financial Advisers, and will have the right to examine the records of any practioner randomly and on demand, and without warning Practitioners’ records will have to show that the adviser has carried out all logical steps to assess the posion of the investor and keep records of how they came to decide on the advice given. In the case of “ethical” investments the audits carried out will attempt to ensure that they are following their proclaimed line.
The advent of the Scottish Parliament should not affect the way FSA works as its remit falls mainly into UK business. It will however have a regional office, in Dundas Street in Edinburgh, its only outpost, which will also have responsibility for Northern Ireland and as far South as Yorkshire. The Head Office is at 25 The North Colonnade, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5HS.
These Town Meetings are an indication of the intention to keep in touch with consumers as well as those in the industry itself. The Management Board will also have specific “consumer representatives” appointed to represent their interest. It will aslo have a consumer panel to ease consultation.