Letter: Budget queries

I have been warned by my supplier that the price of my electricity will be increased by 11 per cent next month, partly because of "the cost of the environmental and social schemes we are obliged to implement". A phone conversation confirmed that this referred to its obligation to buy electricity from wind farms whenever it happens to be available.

Joan McAlpine's column, "In unity is strength but no guarantee of equality", (9 August) is a characteristic exercise in omission.

I recently made the point that the UK government spends around 13 billion a year on welfare in Scotland. That is a fact. That money comes from Westminster and is additional to the annual Scottish budget of around 30bn, so represents a third of Scotland's yearly spend.

The question I asked of the Scottish Government was how it planned to fund the benefits bill in an independent Scotland and pointed out that those who advocate separatism from the UK never ask for that part of reserved spending to be devolved.

Ms McAlpine's article throws up a lot of chaff but it cannot disguise the fact that neither she nor the party she represents has provided a direct answer to the question posed - how would an independent Scotland pay an additional 13bn for a separate welfare budget?

It is not a question that deserves to be treated to the convoluted responses in her article.

She also accuses me of "talking Scotland down". The real issue facing Scots is the huge amount of uncertainty the looming referendum on breaking up the UK is causing. Those who support that particular cause cannot hide behind rhetoric much longer. It is not talking Scotland down to ask for the detail behind the plans.

Scotland needs to see the fine print from her party before it is asked to vote in any referendum. If they do not know the answer, those who support independence should simply say so and Scots will judge for themselves.

David Mundell

Scotland Office

Edinburgh