Mystery road

John Peter lists a number of matters which would have to be addressed should independence materialise (Letters, 22 May). They are largely pertinent but I see two problems in trying to answer them.

First, no party or administration has the power or right to commit any future government of an independent Scotland to any particular course of action. The whole point of independence is that governments then elected have sovereign powers.

Second, there is no knowing what the relevant circumstances will be at that future date. The longer term effects of the current emergency may well be much less than some

but there will be some. Climate change could have an enormous effect or be a damp squib (like the millennium bug –remember that?). More likely to be relevant are the terms on which the UK leaves the EU – assuming it does so before independence.

Many of the matters raised would have to be resolved by discussion with the Westminster government and its attitude could well be influenced by its position vis a vis Europe.

As regards the more technical financial matters, all one can reasonably say at the moment is that the many states which have come into existence since the middle of the last century have cobbled something together.

Finally, Mr Peter seems to assume, as many do, that the present economy of the UK, which seems to depend on the City of London propping us all up, will continue for all eternity, or at least until the end of the century. I fear this may be a very dangerous assumption.

S BECK Craigleith Drive, Edinburgh