What a waste

Published on 28/07/2012 00:00

I WAS appalled to read that £6 million of scarce taxpayers’ 
resources plus a further £15 
million on programme resources are to be squandered on a 
Scottish foreign office.

There is no provision in the Scotland Act for foreign affairs to be devolved.

We have at present, as part of the United Kingdom, a worldwide representation which is recognised as being outstanding, and has in its ranks a substantial Scottish presence.

There is nothing to be gained by setting up a rival body when so much can be achieved using the existing structure.

At the same time, our government is calling for more to be made available for infrastructure projects.

Perhaps our First Minister is hoping to be better informed on foreign affairs than he and his ministers are proving to be on defence and finance; they appear to make up answers on the back of an envelope the day before.

However, there is no excuse whatever for this waste of financial resources.

John Kelly

High Street

Dalkeith, Midlothian