Letter: Fiscal labours

You do Scotland a service by publishing the opinions of the six leading academics (31 January). Their opinions on the effects of full fiscal autonomy make riveting reading and blast out of the water the Alex Salmond-John Swinney claims that such a process would significantly boost the Scottish economy.

They also call into question the methods used to come to the conclusions reached by the two academics who were questioned recently by the Scotland Bill Committee.

The complaints of over- aggressive questioning now look a little flat, as on matters of such fundamental importance clearly the most forensic examination of evidence is exactly what was required.

It would seem the fiscal autonomy argument can now join so many other half-baked and ill-thought through initiatives from the SNP: local income tax, referendums - the list is virtually endless.

The people of this country will make their judgments in May.

Alexander McKay

New Cut Rigg

Edinburgh

Regarding the different views of academic economists on more fiscal powers boosting the Scottish economy, it used to be said, somewhat unkindly, that if you got ten economists in a room and asked for an opinion on something you'd probably get 12 different answers.

It must just be an inexact science.

(Prof) Ron Masson

Fountainhall Road

Edinburgh

You report (31 January 31) that a group of academics claim there is no evidence to show whether Scotland would be any better or worse off with fiscal autonomy.

Do these "experts" seriously expect me to believe that, if my pension were paid to my neighbour, who then gave me a small proportion of it and kept the rest, I would not be much worse off than if it were paid directly to me in full in the first place ?

Peter Swain

Innerwick

Dunbar, East Lothian