We could pay our way

Alex Bell talked sense in the Sunday Mail on March 12 – Scotland earns enough to pay for a decent, socially just society.

In the past year, Scotland raised about £53 billion in taxes. That is enough to cover the NHS, education, pensions and benefits without a single cut. It even covers debt repayments with billions to spare.

That is not a surprise – our neighbour Ireland raises about as much in taxes and manages to provide health, education and social protection.

What Ireland doesn’t do is pay for the remnants of an empire in the form of a big defence budget, large embassies and the lot.

Ireland isn’t burdened by the costs of a ballooning global city (London) or foreign dependencies.

Tommy Colquhoun Airdrie