Letters: Independence another shot at oil wealth

If we accept that his time-span is right, then the only way to look at it is to consider how unbelievably lucky we are that, unlike almost every other European country seeking independence in the past 100 years, we will have 40 years of the current enormous revenues to build up an oil fund, or to invest in infrastructure and education

However, most oil analysts see the price of crude oil doubling from the present $110 £70) over the next ten years, and new technology will double the amount of oil recoverable from new and existing fields, so the future for an independent Scotland is very rosy. One thing is certain: an independent Scotland will not treat this wonderful resource in the same way as the Treasury, which has squandered it all.

Unlike the fortunate and prudent Norwegians, the spendthrift Westminster government has not saved a single penny of the irreplaceable oil revenues of the past 40 years.

While the Norwegians currently have a fund worth about £71,000 for every citizen, we have nothing, and without independence we can be sure it will stay that way.

Scotland could be the only country in the world to discover massive amounts of oil and end up poorer.

James Duncan

Rattray Grove

Edinburgh

Writing as someone who enjoys a wee drink but is currently stone-cold sober, hence an admirer of Lord Fraser’s frankness and prescience, I wonder at, but expected, Andrew HN Gray’s criticism (Letters, 19 May) of the Scottish Government’s minimum pricing for alcohol policy.

Minimum pricing has been extensively researched by Sheffield University and has been found to work.

Most authorities, including medical and police, approve the policy and the Westminster government is considering following Scotland’s lead; surely this must make it correct.

To say that “smokers smoke, whatever the price” is simply wrong. Many millions have given up smoking and Mr Gray should be reassured that the SNP is obviously pursuing minimum pricing for the benefit of people in Scotland, not popularity!

Mr Gray asks: “Who would vote for a split-up of the UK if they were sober?” I often wonder if Scotland’s problem with alcohol stems, to some extent, from being in the invidious position of a nation without sovereignty, lacking confidence because of the anomalies involved, and frustration at being praised for much but considered not smart enough to run our own country?

I can think of other ex-colonies and repressed peoples who suffer or suffered from excessive alcohol consumption. I can only hope that, come the referendum, people in Scotland will soberly vote to take their rightful place in the family of nations – then wonder why it took them so long.

Bill McLean

Newmills

Dunfermline, Fife

References to the Weir Group (Letters, 19 May) reminded me of a letter written by Lord Weir many many years ago to The Scotsman, threatening to leave Scotland should it attain independence.

At that time I wrote a personal letter to his lordship offering to pay his fare first-class single to London. If Lord Weir is still with us, that offer stands.

R Mill Irving

Station Road

Gifford, East Lothian

Gerry Hassan (Perspective, 19 May) unwittingly made a case against independence by pointing out that Scotland is already one of the wealthiest parts of the UK.

On independence, with either the pound or the euro, we will have given up critical elements of economic control, such as setting interest rates, devaluing currency and printing money.

William Ballantine

Dean Road

Bo’ness, West Lothian