SIR, Every day we hear that people aren’t interested in politics. Well, that’s certainly not true in Peebles.

Last week I attended an open meeting, hosted by the Tweeddale branch of the SNP, along with some 60 others to find out more about the threat posed to the NHS by ISDS – not Iain Duncan Smith, the current Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, but the Investor to State Dispute Settlement clause being discussed as part of the secret TTIP (Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership) negotiations currently underway between the USA and Europe’s 28 member states.

I learned that TTIP aims to open up Europe to US business investment, giving US corporations and firms the right to tender for public contracts. More importantly, ISDS gives the investors the means to sue the state if the investors believe their potential to generate profit has been disadvantaged.

Recently and dramatically, Philip Morris, the tobacco giant, sued the Australian government for potential loss of profits to their company due the Australian government’s plan to use plain packaging on cigarettes. The spectre of large corporations pursuing their commercial aims in the public sector could become a real and present danger in Scotland, particularly given the UK government’s decision to now use plain paper packaging for cigarettes.

Morgwn Davies, an NHS employee, outlined the growing differences between NHS Scotland and NHS England. Ongoing privatisation south of the border can change the way in which the NHS budget is classified, potentially reducing the overall Treasury budget figure for health. When this Treasury figure is reduced, this impacts on the Barnett formula, the mechanism that determines how much money the Scottish government can expect to see returned to Scotland. This is partly why the First Minister has to make the case for Scottish votes on English laws impacting on Scotland.

Professor Nigel Mace explained how ISDS might work and urged people to campaign to ensure that ISDS is excluded from any European TTIP agreement. Davies asked that we urge all candidates for the UK May election to declare their stance on excluding the NHS from any TTIP agreement.

I was completely shocked to learn of the threat TTIP and ISDS may pose to our NHS. We have to protect everyone’s right, irrespective of income, to health care. We also need to look at how these plans might affect education, social housing and other services provided for public good rather than profit.

It would be good to start a discussion in your paper about these issues.

I am, etc.

Heather Anderson West Linton