Value industry

In his litany of all that is wrong with Scotland’s industry Allan Sutherland (Letters, 27 November) forgets to note that of all the four UK nations, according to the Regional Trade Data from UK Government sources, Scotland is the only one which consistently runs a balance of trade surplus. So we must be good at somethings and some folk are still grafting. It also appears to give the lie to the assertion that Scotland has a weak economy and would be unable to sustain itself and that somehow our goods and services would cease to be valued as exports if the country was independent.

GILL TURNER Derby Street, Edinburgh