Sir, – Jill Stephenson (Indy numbers don’t add up, Courier, March 23) constantly talks Scotland down, again presenting it, at this time of crisis, as totally dependent on the UK.
She asks “how would a separate Scotland have combated this (coronavirus) crisis?’
I would suggest the Scottish Government would not have gambled against the best evidence on how to deal with the virus. As for the benefits of the Barnett consequentials, an independent Scotland would keep its own money, including oil income, and manage within our means very well without nuclear weapons, foreign wars, aircraft carriers, HS2, Crossrail, and all the rest of Westminster’s vanity projects.
Ms Stephenson implies an oil price collapse would destroy Scotland’s finances. Well it won’t be doing that to independent Norway because the Norwegians have invested their oil revenues.
They now have a huge wealth fund to see the country through hard times, such as these. As Scotland could have had.
What will the UK do when the oil does run out, and those vast revenues cease?
An independent Scotland will replace these with our green energy resources, potentially the best in Europe.
An independent Scotland would also not be in the process of deliberately self harming by leaving the biggest, most successful free trade group in the world, for the dubious benefit of dependence on Trump’s America.
Les Mackay.
5 Carmichael Gardens,
Dundee.
SNP wouldn’t run down NHS
Sir, – Derek Farmer asks how an independent Scotland could raise the vast sums of money that Westminster is raising to fight the coronavirus.
Scotland only has a population of 5,500,000 compared to the 60,000,000 of the UK, so we wouldn’t need to raise the same vast sums.
Also, I would hope a Scottish Government wouldn’t run down the NHS like the Tory UK Government has done these last 10 years or so, which has led to having to pay countless millions to private health firms to rent beds.
Oh, and independent Scotland’s finances wouldn’t be solely reliant on oil revenue.
Tommy Allan.
113 Ivanhoe Drive,
Glenrothes.
No clouds may be a silver lining
Sir, – The more humans interact the more Covid-19 will spread.
But we may have the weather on our side.
Covid-19 is an “enveloped virus” with the main body protected by an oily film called a lipid bilayer.
When the temperature is low the film is durable and protects the main body; when temperature is high the film is less durable and may break down.
There is only indirect causal evidence as yet of the influence of weather and the spread of Covid-19, but it remains a possibility.
Let’s hope there is a connection and that the warm days to come will have an effect.
In the meantime government advice to stay at home offers the best protection.
William Loneskie.
Amulree,
9 Justice Park, Oxton.
Bad choice, Your Highness
Sir, – People from the south are being told in no uncertain terms not to come to the Scottish Highlands in their campervans and to their holiday homes to escape the present crisis.
What does the heir to the throne do?
Why, he comes to Balmoral in the Scottish Highlands of course. Bad choice, Your Highness.
George Dobbie.
51 Airlie Street,
Alyth.
Lockdown may aid obesity fight
Sir, – Like others I’m sure, I found it quite unbelievable to see long queues forming outside the nation’s favourite restaurant when it announced it was following the government’s advice and temporarily closing.
Maybe this disaster will change some people’s eating habits as they will no longer be able to rely on a constant flow of takeaways.
As a result this may have a positive impact on the nation’s obesity crisis.
This would then in turn free up thousands of NHS staff and much needed beds.
Steven Lyall.
24 Wyvis Road,
Dundee.
Keep distance while shopping
Sir, – Having recently shopped at a local supermarket within the “priority hour” set aside for NHS staff, the elderly and vulnerable, I was impressed at certain security measures.
However, it would appear some have scant notion of two metres.
To clarify, authorities may consider putting down hazard marker tape to define queue- forming areas.
Inside supermarkets, woven polypropylene sheeting could be used to create a protective barrier between in-going and outgoing shoppers.
Such measures could well prove effective towards reducing the spread of this infection.
Kenneth Miln.
6 Swallow Apts,
Union St, Monifieth.
Patients getting prescriptions
Sir, – I believe a GP surgery will only deal with symptoms relating to coronavirus and any prescription can only be collected by hand through an open window.
There are similar symptoms relating to other illnesses, prescriptions for which do not appear available .
Or have I lost the plot?
A A Bullions.
6 Glencairn Crescent,
Leven.
