Stark choices for Scotland

Sir, - In his letter (August 26) Alex Orr, the SNP’s favourite letter writer, indulges in makebelieve economics to try to divert attention from the fact that the Scottish Government is spending significantly more that it generates in taxation.

The recently published Scottish Government GERS report clearly indicates that Scotland is spending almost £15 billion more than the revenues it collects.

Let’s put this £15bn fiscal deficit into some perspective.

Purely and simply, the Scottish Government is spending around £280 million per week more than it earns or £40m per day.

The consequent and regular annual accumulating debt is unsustainable and the deficit can only be reduced in one of two ways; increased taxation and/or reduced government spending.

The Scottish Government