Dividend debate

Mary Thomas (Letters, 18 February) is right in stating that “it is wrong to claim that Scotland spends £12 billion more than we earn”. The correct figure is £12.63 billion. That’s some Union dividend.

Clearly Ms Thomas wishes to pursue the alternative facts approach favoured by the SNP. She seems to base her argument on the fact that a quarter of the deficit is paid in interest on ‘UK’ debt -– leaving a mere £9.5 billion deficit. It is interesting that nationalists always refer to this as ‘UK’ or ‘Westminster’ debt as though Scotland played no part in its accumulation.

Perhaps they forget the contributions to this debt occasioned by, for instance, the Royal Bank of Scotland and Halifax Bank of Scotland – theclueisinthenames.in2014 it was agreed by nationalists – mostly – that Scotland was liable for a share of UK debt and this obligation would be honoured.

Presumably the SNP now propose welshing on that commitment although, given the fact that loans would play a very significant role in an independent Scotland, it might not be a good move to be seen in international eyes to be failing to honour such pledges. Nor would it endear us much to the European Union, I fear.

Finally, despite the SNP’S own Growth Commission’s warnings, Ms Thomas has

little to offer in the way of making an economic case for an independent Scotland other than by putting all our eggs in the oil basket. Recent facts – with no alternatives – will make the Scottish electorate wary of SNP projections.

It is going to cost the Scottish taxpayer £681 million and take nine years to transfer control over of a handful of benefits to Holyrood from Westminster! Alex Salmond, remember, proclaimed that the entire cost of converting Scotland to independence would be £200 million and would be accomplished in 18 months!

Maybe he misspelled “million”?

COLIN HAMILTON Braid Hills Avenue, Edinburgh