Age-old problems

IN PREPARATION for Higher English in 1960, we were told that it was better to choose, for the exam essay, a discussion rather than, for example, a description, as one was more likely to get a good mark. The topic for discussion that year was “problems of road and rail transport”, about which my knowledge was minimal. However, I attempted the essay and argued that freight should be moved as much as possible from roads to railways.

Successive governments have paid no attention to my schoolgirl suggestions or to those of the many experts who have advocated the same thing, and I should be surprised if they pay any to those of David Spaven of the Rail Freight Group (Friends of The Scotsman, 28 August). However, at least I passed Higher English.

Ishbel Clark

Frogston Road West

Edinburgh