Confusing claims

As yet there is not even agreement on what section of the North Sea an autonomous Scotland would be responsible for. That in itself could ultimately become a matter for arbitration.

The varying assessments of the worth of reserves and the tax revenues that would accrue is simply going to complicate the matter further.

North Sea oil and gas revenues are likely to be an essential component of an independent Scotland’s economic base. It is not just uncertainty about the volatility of oil prices in the future that make predictions difficult.

It is the fact that in the post-referendum negotiations – over who gets what – a government representing around 55 million people (the rest of the United Kingdom) will be negotiating with a government representing just over five million. Whose side will the cards be stacked on?

All this will not take place in isolation from discussions on the national debt.

There are bound to be differences over whether Scotland’s share should be based on population or gross national product. It will suit First Minister Alex Salmond’s government to base it on the former.

But that might be considered unfair by the current coalition government or its successor.

The forthcoming white paper on independence might cast some light on both issues.

But I suspect it will simply lead to another bout of claim and counter claim which further alienates and confuses the voters.

Bob Taylor

Shiel Court

Glenrothes

It is intriguing to note the report published by the Chancellor, George Osborne, claiming that £1.5 trillion worth of oil and gas revenues remaining in Scotland’s waters is an “overestimate” by the Scottish Government (your report, 3 September).

In fact, this figure is based on estimates by industry body UK Oil & Gas, which is also used in the UK government’s own oil and gas strategy document and indeed is more conservative than other UK government estimates.

In addition, Mr Osborne claims that oil revenues went from £2 billion to £12bn in the space of a “couple” of years. In fact, this increase in revenues took place over a 13-year period.

On a previous visit to Scotland George Osborne claimed that investment in Scotland was being damaged by the referendum. Embarrassingly for him, even the UK government’s own statistics showed that inward investment has increased at a higher rate than the UK as a whole, to one of the highest levels on record.

Just like his budget and much of his economic forecasts George Osborne’s claims, which contradict the figures used by his own government, have unravelled just hours after they were made and demonstrates yet again that he simply cannot be trusted.

Alex Orr

Leamington Terrace

Edinburgh

It is a profound irony to read of the Chancellor of Exchequer’s statement on the dangers of the offshore oil industry.

He quite rightly praises the workers who operate in such dangerous places.

Yet it is the UK government that deals with workplace health and safety and has been engaged in its time in office in both an ideological attack on the subject and a slash and burn strategy to its budgets and enforcement practices.

This has been done under the smokescreen of two major strands: the burdens of red tape on employers from health and safety laws and the existence of a compensation culture that has exploited innocent businesses. Neither strand has any truth.

There are no wild enforcers rushing around Scotland compelling employers to implement bureaucratic health and laws and regulations. Nor are there compensation claims from people fabricating serious workplace injuries and illnesses.

It is not possible to invent either major amputations, burns and scalds at the workplace or occupational cancers and occupational respiratory diseases.

Indeed the opposite is true: for example, most people with workplace illnesses do not receive any significant compensation at all or even recognition of their diseases.

In the past the UK government has been rebuked for making inaccurate and false statements about economic statistics. They are engaged in the same misinformation strategies now with regard to UK occupational health and safety.

The best tribute George Osborne could make to those killed in the offshore oil industry is to re-instate health and safety budgets and increase, not decimate, health and safety protection for workers across the UK.

Cheap photo opportunities are not the answer.

(Prof) Andrew Watterson

Occupational and Environmental Health Research Group

University of Stirling

Has anyone bothered to check out Norway’s health service? If ours was as “good” as theirs (£15 to see the doctor, virtually no free dental care, virtually no free prescriptions, charges for specialist hospital treatment), we could have an oil fund.

Peter Kent

Greengates

Meikle Wartle