Kirk must learn to communicate

Scotland is not a junk country and would not have a junk credit rating

WHILST the main thrust of Harry Reid’s comment (“Predicament PR will not solve”, The Herald, February 23) is one of gloom and doom vis a vis the future of the Church of Scotland, he does concede that there is vibrancy and energy within many congregations.

He highlights the main problem as one of communication, and particularly the absence of an effective communicator who speaks on behalf of the national church in Scotland. However communication is a two-way process, which currently is not the case between church hierarchy and members.

At present outdated procedure and usage of archaic language pertain. Unswerving adherence to tradition remains whilst much of society’s social ills and needs continue unaddressed. By his own genuine critique of the Church of Scotland’s limitations, Harry Reid has put himself in the frame for the office of communicator within our own national church. A classic case of being foisted by his own petard. Allan C Steele, 22 Forres Avenue, Giffnock. YOUR correspondent Gavin R Tait asks “if one assumes that all tax receipts up to the date of independence pass to the Westminster Treasury” where will his salary as a public employee come from (Letters, February 25)? Why would he assume such a thing?

I suspect it would not be beyond the wit of even this Westminster Government to come to an arrangement with the Scottish Government to bridge the transition to independence, unless we are to assume malice from politicians in London.

Mr Tait then goes on to say that after independence the Scottish national debt would be 40% of GDP. Given that the UK national debt is well over 60% of GDP and forecast to go beyond 70% then this would be a marvellous outcome for an independent Scotland.

I can see no reason either why a resource-rich county like Scotland should fear the ratings agencies in the way that George Osborne or Mr Tait do. Scotland is not a junk country and wouldn’t have a junk rating. John Jamieson, 7 Monument Road, Ayr. GAVIN R Tait suggests that Scotland might not have the ability to pay its bills on Independence Day because the infrastructure might not be in place, and we could therefore be bankrupt before we started. You would be forgiven for thinking that no other country had ever gained its independence before now.

Supporters of the No campaign will need to improve their selection of battlegrounds if they are to contribute meaningfully to this debate. Blair Allan, 2 Glasdrum Grove, Fort William. LET us not mourn the loss of an AAA rating, this being one of the factors enabling Gordon Brown to borrow so much when he was Chancellor, leaving our children and grandchildren with extraordinary debt. William Durward. 20 South Erskine Park, Bearsden.