Healthy sceptic

I was thrilled (your report, 13 February) to hear Scottish health minister Alex Neil assure us that we will all be “healthier after independence”. What a wonderfully outlandish claim.

So, the years of bad diet, lack of concern for one’s own health, excessive drinking and smoking – despite government programmes to alert us all – will magically be erased once independence is declared. How amazing. Please do tell us more, Mr Neil, for I fear some may be yet unconvinced.

David Gerrard

Spylaw Park

Edinburgh