Sir, It is such an enlightening thought that so many people are taking an interest in economics and statistics for Scotland and quoting them for the benefit of us all.
However, I am sure most of us are well aware of the fact that our agricultural industries and fisheries used to be the envy of Europe, which is why I suspected the Europeans of purposely trying to destroy them. Speak to any boat owner or pig farmer driven from business by the
European Agricultural and Fisheries policy and ask why our First Minister, Alex Salmond, is determined to join them. Then ask any welder about the chances of building ships for the Ministry of Defence as an independent country.
The economic statistic we want to hear is the difference between the country’s income and expenditure. How much is left from gross domestic product after paying the bills for government salaries and pensions, health service, energy, education, communication, debt, etc, etc?
There is an old saying in golf “drive for show, putt for dough”; in economics it becomes “turnover for show, balance sheet for dough”.
Where is the balance sheet for Scotland? The country is waiting for the real statistics so that we might make a balanced and comparable judgement of what might be possible.
But the most important and real economic question, above all others, is what currencyto use and we have noconfirmation that the pound sterling will be available or, indeed, the euro.
Alan Bell. Roods, Kirriemuir.
Beware great green swindle
Sir, Germany has more than 22,200 wind turbines but Germany’s CO2 emissions are still rising and they have the highest electricity bills in Europe. Doesn’t this tell us something?
In 2011 Chancellor Angela Merkel ordered the country’s eight oldest atomic reactors to shut down. To fill this generating shortfall she wants electricity companies to build modern gas and coal-fired generators. Yes, coal and gas and carbon capture and storage is still a “pipe dream”.
The US is exporting cheap coal to Europe and Poland is a major consumer. Australia, Germany and Spain are already slashing green subsidies and Czech Republic’s government has voted to end support for renewables power generation in a bid to reduce electricity bills.
Only 6% of total global CO2 is caused by mankind. When historians look back at this era, they will point out that billions of dollars/pounds/euros have been extracted from ordinary people and economies ruined on the criminally-false pretext of saving the planet.
Clark Cross. 138 Springfield Road, Linlithgow.
Please pedal into purdah
Sir, Harriet Harman, having stymied attempts by the few remaining all-male golf clubs to gradually include a women’s section with her clumsy equality bill, is at it again.
A preemptory demand has been sent to the Tour de France, insisting that a women’s race be started just ahead of the men’s Grand Depart, scheduled next year in Yorkshire.
She must think the Tour is cycling’s version of the London marathon and has no idea of the dangers created when the peloton and its travelling circus overtake the women.
Perhaps she should follow the example of her former boss, Gordon Brown, and embark on a period of reflection and self-imposed purdah somewhere in the depths of rural Suffolk.
Dr John Cameron. 10 Howard Place, St Andrews.
Money for the mandarins
Sir, The Scottish Parliament has consistently said Scotland must keep hold of, and protect against any intrusion into, the benefits we obtain from the North Sea.
Alex Salmond has stated these North Sea benefits will be little more than the icing on the cake of a strong and vibrant independent Scottish economy. If this is so, would Mr Salmond, or perhaps John Swinney, be prepared to give us a hard facts-and-figures account, not opinion, of how the economy of an independent Scotland would be accurately calculated?
It seems to me there are those who make decisions and those who carry them out politicians and civil servants. The UK has both in abundance. While Scotland may have the politicians, surely we will need many more civil servants than we have at present?
This additional raft of employees must be paid. Where will the money come from: additional taxation or less employment in other areas? How does this figure in our new economy?
AA Bullions. Leven.