Sir, There have been several letters recently stating that an independent Scotland would struggle in the future because “the oil will run out”.
What has been completely ignored in these letters is that excluding North Sea oil output, GVA per head of population in Scotland is estimated to be approximately 99% of the UK average and the highest in the UK outside London and the South East.
When the value of North Sea output is added the size of the Scottish economy increases by 20%.
I would hope that this simple economic fact would put the whole debate to bed, that those who wish Scotland to stay in the union will acknowledge, as even most unionist politicians do, that Scotland can easily survive as an independent country and debate the kind of Scotland we all want to see.
It would be nice for once to hear the positive arguments for staying in the union.
However, after two years of the debate and still not one positive mentioned I will not be holding my breath.
Stewart Hunter. 61 Greenlee Drive, Dundee.
Jam tomorrow, but when . . . ?
Sir, Last November it was announced, to great fanfare, that Monty Python would be reforming for a one-off show. It appears that Gordon Brown and Sir Menzies Campbell, with their devolution proposals, have just written the first sketch of this reunion.
Sir Ming’s proposals are vague, dependent on a Lib Dem party, which according to the polls will be annihilated at the next general election and thus in no position to implement any of these changes, and will be subject to the approval of English MPs, whose constituents will be wondering why England can’t get extra powers, as well.
As for Gordon Brown’s offer of a “constitutional lock” guaranteeing the existence of the Scottish Parliament and extra control on raising revenues for Scotland, these are also subject to the approval of 600 plus English, Welsh, and Northern Irish MPs, versus 59 Scottish MPs.
It’s jam tomorrow . . . maybe . . . but they can’t say when!
RMF Brown. Hill Terrace, Markinch.
It takes one to know one
Sir, Despite the best efforts of Perth and Kinross Council, our locally elected representatives, to prevent the spread of wind turbines across our landscape, they are consistently overruled by the Scottish Government.
Therefore, when I hear Alex Salmond accusing others of being bullies I cannot help but think, “it takes one to know one”.
Mark Liddiard. North Mains, Strathallan, Auchterarder.
No substitute for direct flights
Sir, Dundee needs more destination tourism or “the master plan” may founder. That requires international connectivity. If Dundee City Council leader Ken Guild doesn’t “get” that, then perhaps we need a change of civic “leadership”?
I am sure that links to London and the South East of England via Stansted are important, but no substitute for direct flights into a Dundee-St Andrews Airport at Leuchars given the runway constraints at Riverside explained in the recent scoping study done by Transport Scotland.
Congratulations to The Courier on approaching the MoD.
Neil Robertson. 4 Glamis Terrace, Dundee.
This support is appreciated
Sir, You reported the decision of Perth and Kinross Council to spend £50,000 on improving the historic and delightful Perth North Inch Golf Course. I congratulate them on their belated, if rather limited, support for this under-appreciated and oft-maligned course.
In my opinion, the course is the best in Perth. It provides a good variety of challenges to the club golfer from the short picturesque 16th to the tricky Annie’s Well and playing the course is an enjoyable, not too arduous walk through a park populated by magnificent trees and offering stunning views of the Tay and Perth.
Interestingly, on the day your article was published another newspaper reported on the well-researched fact that exercise staves off dementia. Also, obesity in the young is an ongoing concern in health circles and the media. So anything that promotes physical activity is a boon to the local community.
The North Inch golf course is comparatively inexpensive which has the potential, if marketed properly, of getting more people involved in healthy exercise. There is an opportunity with the Ryder Cup coming soon to encourage youth involvement in the game just as curling is making good use of the Olympics for a similar purpose.
Hopefully this small begin-ning by the council will lead to more support in the future.
George Thomson. 7 Glenearn Park, Forgandenny.
Come clean!
Sir, The only Scottish jobs the Labour Party are interested in saving, if they’re truthful, are their own with the accompanying gravy train of expenses and wages. What exactly did they do for Scotland the 13 years they were in power?
John G Phimister. 63 St Clair Street, Kirkcaldy.