However, the real problem was not the ballot papers and the different voting methods, as there was plenty of advice and instruction on how to complete the ballot papers, both in the media and in flyers which came in through our letterbox.

My wife and I took the trouble to study these before voting, so knew exactly how to mark the separate ballot papers. It’s a great pity more people didn’t do the same.

However, I have no confidence my votes were counted correctly by the new electronic computing system which is in such disarray. There has been absolutely no information on how these computers read the data on the ballot papers and accumulate the results for the different candidates. — R. D. McLeod, Strathbeg Place, Broughty Ferry.

However, I was perplexed by this tree on the Kingsway, near the Scott Fyffe circle.

It seems to bear two types of flower, and I was wondering if any reader could shed light on it. Is it a graft of some sort? — Stumped.

While your taxed-to-the-hilt British driver is fined automatically by post for non display of road tax, immigrants escape the net.

Bearing in mind that a valid MoT certificate and certificate of insurance is required to obtain road tax, are these issues being policed or are there cars run by foreigners on the road without an MoT and insurance?

Is there some sort of monitoring system to check when the year’s free road tax is up?

It sounds like a shambles to me and grossly unfair to the hard-pressed British motorist. — J. D.

[A spokeswoman for the DVLA said, “EU vehicles that are circulating temporarily within or between community Member States are allowed, under EC Directive 83/182, to be used on public roads without the need to register or pay certain duties in the host country. These provisions limit visits to six months in a 12-month period and the vehicle must comply with the registration and licensing requirements of its home country.

“If, at any time, a vehicle displaying foreign registration plates is stopped by the police, the keeper is responsible for demonstrating that they are eligible to use the vehicle in the UK without registering and licensing it in this country.

“All foreign vehicles circulating in the UK must be insured. Each EU Member State is required under the 4th EU Motor Insurance directive to have a central register containing vehicle insurance details. This is designed to ease the process of claiming against a foreign motor insurer when an EU citizen is involved in an accident outside their own country of residence.

“European law requires each Member State to take all appropriate measures to ensure that civil liability, in respect of the use of vehicles normally based in its territory is covered by insurance. Each Member State is also required to set up a guarantee fund, which compensates the victims of uninsured vehicles normally based in its territory. For these purposes ‘normally based’ means the place in which the vehicle is registered.

“Any vehicle used in this country for more than six months in any twelve has to be registered and licensed in the normal way. In addition, where the registered keeper of the vehicle becomes resident in this country, the vehicle must immediately be registered and licensed here.

“Some individuals are clearly failing to comply with these conditions and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is working with other EU authorities to help tackle the problem. The registration and licensing rules in the UK need to be fully understood by the drivers of foreign registered vehicles and a pilot scheme involving a number of EU countries is already under way, providing an education message via presentations to community leaders, articles in the media, leaflets and warning notices placed on vehicle windscreens. However, those who continue to flout the law are subject to enforcement action including, where appropriate, the wheel clamping and impounding of the vehicle.

“To support the pilot, DVLA is recording details concerning sightings of foreign vehicles. This allows a calculation of the periods in which they may be circulating in the UK, however, does not constitute a complete record of all foreign registered vehicles in circulation.”]

Last year, thanks to Help a Heart supporters, the BHF raised £1.5 million for essential heart research.

By sparing a few hours and joining the team of collectors this year you could ensure this research continues.

To find out more, email helpaheart@bhf.org.uk or call 0131 555 5891. — Iain Lowis, Head of Community Fundraising, BHF Scotland.

People trying to use the ATM got all the way to asking for cash, then got their card back but no money.

It’s not clear whether their accounts had been debited.

This is the second time I have seen this particular ATM in this state. The first time I phoned the bank’s “report a suspected fraud” number shown on the screen but it doesn’t seem to have had any effect.

I’d be interested to hear Lloyd TSB’s response since there seems to be an on-going problem.

I won’t use this ATM again and will always check the dispenser shutter and card reader before using any ATM. — Nick.

[A spokesperson for Lloyds TSB said, “We apologise to any customers who experienced problems with our cashpoint.

“Customers who requested cash but did not receive it shouldn’t have had the money deducted from their account but we would recommend customers double check their statement and let us know if there is a discrepancy.

“If customers notice any problems with the cash machine we would ask them to report it to the local branch or call the telephone number displayed on the screen.”]

Surely there is no more violent a crime than attacking a country like Iraq and being responsible for thousands of deaths?

The BNP would not have sent our troops to Iraq. — George Aimer, Kinghorne Road, Dundee.

Scotland’s highest population total was in 1971, with 5,228,963 falling to 5,130,735 in 1981. — Westender, Dundee.