Small countries lead by example

SIR, – With reference to the comparison of Scotland with other small countries by Allan Sutherland, your correspondent Dick Winchester has hit the nail squarely on the head (Letter, July 14).

I have business interests in Estonia and visit Finland and Sweden regularly. Finland takes great pride in being a classless society with no lords, ladies, and cannot believe we in the UK suffer from such a thing as homelessness. They have the second highest standard of living in the world, without the benefit of oil revenue.

It is an insult to me, and fellow Scots, to say Scotland would not survive on its own when so many other small – or even smaller – countries in Europe have established themselves as desirable in which to stay, with high standards of living. Examples are Finland, Norway, Sweden. Denmark, Iceland, Ireland – all northern European countries like Scotland.

Albert Howie, Westfield House, Stuartfield, Peterhead