The main reason for the creation of the lottery was to help provide funds for those who need it.

However, in my opinion a lot of money is being spent for an elite few to bring home a medal at the expense of grassroots sports, the supporting of disabled people, etc.

The truth is these Olympians will make little impact on childhood obesity, cardiac problems. Indeed I’m not sure if they increase exercise in schools themselves, by inspiring young people.

In effect the lottery has funded a privileged few who will go on to gain knighthoods, etc, and will make very little difference to those kids who get hounded for kicking a ball around a ‘keep off the grass’ sign.

Indeed some families in Scotland, after paying for the running of swimming pools through council tax, have little or no disposable income to take their children to a facility they in part fund.

In any other walk of life, if the vast amount of money had been spent to benefit so few there would be uproar from all quarters. The winning of medals will have little or no impact on my life, and I suspect this is true for many. — James Hutchison, Dundee.

On closer investigation this press release is only a rehash of an earlier commitment.

No-one said dualling the A9 would be easy or cheap. If it was, the previous Executive would have obliged.

But if SNP ministers are going to headline this key manifesto promise, surely the public deserve something better than a vague solution in three decades time? — Politico.

Both my kids attend primary and secondary school, and it is shocking that parents of very young children are buying skirts that are way above the knee with no tights.

As a society, we are all aware of the growing concern about paedophiles.

Sending kids to school wearing 60s style miniskirts is only asking for the kind of attention from which we are trying to save them. — Karmakat.

It makes me laugh that these people, who say they have nine children, are complaining that they never received a tax credit renewal form in order to update their circumstances and in turn receive their entitlement.

Tax credits was introduced in 2003, so by my reckoning, this is the fifth year of renewals.

Has this person never claimed tax credits for any of her nine children before? If they have then I am sure they were well aware of the renewal dates which have been highly advertised on radio, billboards and television.

I think it is irresponsible, as they are heavily reliant upon their tax credit payments, that they did not ensure that their renewal was completed by the deadline.

Perhaps they should be setting their money aside for a rainy day instead of splashing out on such extravagances as expensive consoles and the like?

I hope they are ashamed for slating the tax credit system, even though, it appears, it is the main breadwinner in their family.

They are forgetting the effort that goes in to making sure they have enough money to feed and clothe their family week in, week out, year on year. — Appreciative, Dundee.

It seems to me that you spend money on luxury items like a Wii instead of essentials. I have had to cut down on luxuries to be able to afford the weekly shop and it makes me wonder how you can afford a Wii and essentials on top of that.

You should have thought about the financial implications before having nine children.

You should also have been more organised because I have had no problems with the tax credit system. — Hard Working Single Parent.

You made your bed, you should have to lie in it. — Scott, Dundee.

There are plenty of ways to avoid pregnancy and at the end of the day it is the taxpayers who are keeping these people in benefits.

Then again, considering the amount of benefit one can claim for nine children there should be no need to sell off anything to live. These people want to have their cake and eat it. — Taxpayer.

If you cannot afford to feed your children, then stop having them. It’s quite simple. — Anon, Dundee.

Ever since the demolition of the old Overgate, which was its heart, it has been nothing but a building site.

Year after year of scaffolding, road works, etc., all being done under the banner of improvements but in my opinion the city centre is a mess.

I have lived here all my life and the last 30-40 years have been heartbreaking.

The Law with its monument stood out like a beacon to all, no matter from which direction you came.

Now you can’t see it because it is covered with trees, bushes and all sorts of vegetation.

I have just had my 80th birthday and wonder if the Law could be cleaned up to make it the beacon it once was?

Will the city centre and its surrounds be free of all this construction work?

When is Bonnie Dundee going to be bonnie again? — Peter Keith.