The city’s McManus Galleries used to be the Albert Institute. It is the second largest memorial to the Prince Consort after Albert Hall in London.

Open this as the branch of the V & A, and move some of the stored items from the McManus into the empty Barrack Street premises.

The building is already undergoing an extensive refurbishment and will be fit for purpose.

Result: no drain on the public purse and two places of enormous cultural interest within close distance.

Why waste money on new buildings when suitable facilities already exist? — Tiggy Butchers, Perth Road, Dundee.

Likewise, there has been a deafening silence from members of the ruling SNP group on the council, when an outcry should have been the response.

The economic benefits awaiting Dundee and its surrounding areas from this project going ahead cannot be underestimated.

I urge Labour’s Dundee-based MSP Marlyn Glen to continue doggedly to fight Dundee’s corner to get a guarantee from finance minister John Swinney that funding will be available in the next spending review. — Politico.

He complains that some days he makes as little as £3 to £4 — way less than the statutory minimum hourly rate of pay for a single hour’s work in the UK.

If Mr Keen is so motivated to work all day for such a pittance, I suggest to him that he takes up part or full time employment with one of the city’s many pubs or clubs.

They are always on the look out for hard-working staff.

Alternatively, the job centre appears to be filled with vacancies for other types of work. — Keep it Real.

I know nothing of Mr Keen’s life, but I congratulate him on stating he is now a former drug addict. — Never Signed On.

I find this astonishing. Does Mr Keen not receive benefit money?

He also has nothing in his flat whatsoever, which begs the question, what is he spending his benefit money on? — Barry Boon.

He states, “You go to university and get your bursary which was your choice”. Yes, it clearly was my choice to go to university.

However, I don’t receive a bursary. This is the reason why I need to work so hard. — Overworked and Underpaid.

If anyone should have got a share of it, it should have been him. I wish him well. — Dundonian.

On one hand, he appeals for “cool heads to prevail” and on the other hand, he openly encourages the use of temporary agency staff to cover striking workers.

It is unacceptable and grossly unfair they should be targeted in such a way.

Would it happen to more skilled groups employed by the council?

It would appear the present administration on Dundee City Council is more concerned on freezing council tax, rather than providing vital public service.

Councillor Guild would do well to remember that Dundee City Council not only has a duty to keep the streets clean, it also has a duty to treat employees fairly and encourage good working practices. — George Mason, Finlaggan Crescent, Dundee.

The last crossing we had with the Greek line cost more than £600 for a return journey. The Norfolk line want more than £800 and we can’t book at Rosyth. We must get online to Northern Ireland to book.

For this money we could fly to the south of Spain for six weeks and have change.

This means the ferry is not going to employ office staff here. The company is taking money out of Scotland and putting nothing in.

I assume the Scottish Parliament will have to subsidise this ferry. We will take the road to Dover with two overnight stops and be spending only £500. — N. Dye, Rosemount Road, Dundee.

Councils should stick to providing the basics.

I suggest filling the holes in the road.

With all the furore over MP’s expenses it would also be reasonable to ask our councillors to watch their expenses carefully. — Tax Payer.

The Children of Songea Trust is a recognised Scottish charity that works to improve the life chances of children and families effected by poverty and HIV/AIDS in the Songea district of Tanzania. — Joyce Mathers.