Fund failure

I refer to Brian Wilson’s assertion that the Nationalists, in seeking fiscal autonomy, aim to rely on North Sea oil revenues to fund schools, hospitals, pensions and benefits (Perspective, 17 January).

By The Newsroom

Published 20th Jan 2015, 00:00 BST

It is my understanding that the SNP has consistently said that estimated tax receipts per capita in Scotland would be equivalent to those of the UK, excluding oil and gas revenues.

The failure of successive UK governments since the 1970s, including the Labour government under Tony Blair (of which Brian Wilson was a member), to set up a sovereign wealth fund to help mitigate against shortfalls in government revenues experienced during economic downturns, has been to the detriment of us all. Just ask the Norwegians how this is done.

Michael Horsburgh

Swanston Muir

Edinburgh