Long-term view

JOAN McAlpine (Perspective, 6 September) weighs into the independence debate waving copies of selective snapshot data. So what if Scotland created 24,000 out of 25,000 UK jobs in Q2 this year? Would she change her mind about the fundamental sovereignty issue if the next quarter produced a different result? McAlpine also claims that Scotland produces more than its fair share of tax revenue. I wonder. According to the Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses 2011, bedside reading for all ardent politicians, public expenditure per head in Scotland in 2009-10 was 13 per cent higher than the UK average, and the plan for 2010-11 was that it would be 15 per cent higher.

We really must get some perspective. The decision to stay or go should be based on a long-term view.

Andrew Anderson

Granton Road

Edinburgh