To: Rt Hon Alex Salmond MSP
First Minister
Scottish Government

Dear Sir,

Re: Taxi Licensing / Commercial protectionism / Worker's rights / Joe FitzPatrick MSP - Dundee West

I refer to the article in the Courier on 9th February, 2011. As Mr FitzPatrick has denied me my citizen's right to ask him a question about his actions concerning a matter which directly affects and influences all taxi drivers in particular and all Scotland's workers in general - implemeting National legislation - I now ask you, as First Minister of our Scottish Government.

http://www.thecourier.co.uk/News/Dundee ... apped.html

According to the artice Joe FitzPatrick is calling on Dundee City Council to place a restriction on the number of operating licences, and "badge" holders (workers), in the city of Dundee - relying on the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (CGSA) - Section 10 (3) in order to do so..

1. As this raises issues of commerical protectionism, and would accord the taxi operators in Dundee special privilege status, I would be grateful if you would confirm that such protectionist measures form part of this Scottish National Party led Scottish Government's official policy?

2. Can you confirm that such a measure, and the relevant CGSA provision, is wholly compatible with:

- European Competition Law?

- European Employment Law?

- Article 14 of the Human Rights Act - Prohibition of Discrimination; other status?

3. Implementation of Mr FitzPatricks call for restriction would remove the right of workers to unfettered access to the tools of their trade. Can you confirm that this is compatible with each of the legislations outlined in item 2 above.

4. Can you confirm that Mr FitzPatrick's actions in this matter are wholly compatible with the Scottish Government's existing Concordat with COSLA?

Thank you for your asistance with this matter and your earliest response to the matters raised.

Reply from Mr Salmond msp

Thank you for your letter but as already stated by Mr Fitzpatrick go f**k yourself gimp.

Reply from Mr Salmond msp

Thank you for your letter but as already stated by Mr Fitzpatrick go f**k yourself gimp.

Yet another quality reposte.

Oh, by the way mr Taylor *cough* jack *cough* nice reply to the couriers online site

dundee cabbies are right that jasbars a nutter haha when wis he let oot

i must be brighter than you cause derestiction dis not work ya baffon

It works for me

Every dug I've ever owned spent most of its time with its nose buried up its own ars*.

But I'll take the short time necessary to educate you.

Restriction doesn't work. Edinburgh has proved this over many years. What we have are high plate values (up to £50K), high driver rentals (Dundee drivers wanna pay these?), higher than necessary tariffs (Dundee customers wanna pay these?) which allow PH competition to offer up to 30% discount and take our work from us (Dundee drivers want this?). Understand this so far?

What your confusing in Dundee is the difference between a temporary (although likely SNP inspired protracted) blip in an economy which is comprehensively fecked and a vested interest group seeking to use this as a a means to acquire the plate value and the means to charge drivers more for their rental because of the shortage being created.

Hapless Joe FitzPatrick didn't understand this. Can you?

BTW If you have any further doubt then note this. The biggest demand supply example in the UK is London. It doesn't restrict. The cabbies are making a good living. No doubt lower somewhat because of the current sh*te economy. But they're not clamouring for restriction. Why do you think this is?

Couldn't be because the high quality control standards in London invest the professionalism in the London Cabby and they realise their worth, with mini cabs picking up the scraps they leave behind?

Wake up dug. Get your nose out of your ars* and smell the coffee.

Don't be duped like the erstwhile Joe FitzPatrick.