Going it alone

Alex Salmond has said he would like to see England with its own parliament, and England as an independent country. Is he suggesting England would be better off without Scotland?

He has said on other occasions that Scotland would be better off without England. I cannot believe he would have made such positive statements without having the assurances from Brussels that Scotland and England would be accepted as independent countries in the European Community.

If he has these assurances can I believe he also has assurances from the International Monetary Fund that finances will be made available to Scotland?

Can I also believe he has agreement from Westminster and Brussels that oil from the North Sea belongs solely to Scotland?

Am I naive in thinking Scotland has secretly passed Europe's financial test, and that Scotland's estimated balance of payments will show a surplus?

JAMES MITCHELL

Craigs Road

Edinburgh