Scotland cannot compared to Norway in production of renewable energy

David Roche and David Stevenson continue to envy Norway (Letters, 24 February). But getting historical facts correct is important, particularly in constitutional affairs.

Norway was not dominated culturally and economically by Sweden; it was a Danish province from 1537 until 1814, when because of Denmark’s alliance with Napoleon, the big European powers ceded it to Sweden.

The union was a very restricted monarchical one( Norway had its own parliament, army, and flag) which broke up 90 years later because of a dispute about control of the consular service and the veto power of the king.

In 1905 Norway deposed him and appointed a new royal family, electing the Danish Prince Karl by referendum. He entitled himself Haakon VII. Haakon VI had died in 1380.

It is beyond dispute that Norway is successful. But it is very different from Scotland. For example, to match it in renewable energy production would mean covering every inch of Scotland with windmills, and more, because of Norway’s superabundance of hydro power and if the tax changes in the recent Holyrood budget indicate future rates of change, the prospect of Norwegian levels arriving here are just as remote; and it is reasonable to speculate that not having whisky production as its most successful industry helped the temperance movement in Norway to have the influence it still enjoys today. HUGH PENNINGTON Carlton Place, Aberdeen In his letter of 24 February David Roche continues to extol the Norwegian economic model.

However, in line with our 129 MSPS, he fails to point out the consequences of the Holyrood policy to phase out the use of gas at 4p per unit and replace the energy demand with electricity at 15p per unit.

The annual Scottish energy bill will increase from £1,500 to over £6,000, which represents an 18 per cent cut in take home pay for a basic rate taxpayer. How does David Roche imagine imposing additional tax hikes on basic rate voters to cover the cost of Norwegian benefits?

In addition, as Scots use six times more gas than electricity, there will be a need for an additional 90,000Mw of wind turbines to meet household demand. At £5 million per installed MW that represents a capital cost of £450 billion.

Has David Roche identified if [former SNP MSP] Andrew Wilson has included these costs in his Growth Report together with the mechanism of ensuring Scottish growth exceeds that of RUK ?

IAN MOIR

Queen Street, Castle Douglas David Stevenson correctly states that high taxes in Norway come with higher wages, but why would businesses in Scotland be obliged to raise their wages bill to match the high taxes imposed after separation? As they would be less com petitive by doing this how would they recover the costs? If increased tax revenues have to be used to subsidise employers to stop them leaving the country there is no overall benefit.

He could also add that prices in Norway are much higher, so these higher wages don’t come with more purchasing power. It is easy for nationalists to say “we can be a wee independent country like Norway”, but they never explain just how the transition between very different economic models could be achieved.

(DR) S J CLARK Easter Road, Edinburgh