Money-go-round takes another turn

Adjacent reports highlight the irrelevance of cross- border funding arrangements (“EU cash blunders cost Scots £100m” and “SNP urged to rethink its costly but populist raft of policies”, 27 October).

If there is anything good to say about “being in Europe”, it cannot include our sending money to the EU, only to get it back again, in this case through so-called “subsidies” on Scottish economic development, farming, the rural economy and fisheries, now being exposed by Audit Scotland. The periods concerned have involved 1994-99, prior to the existence of a Scottish Government, and 2000-2007 when we had at Holyrood a Labour/Liberal Democrat coalition.

In any event, it appears that Scottish civil servants would be in the firing line, even if there are political implications for the SNP administration having to refund the erroneous payments.

Also culpable would be EU civil servants – perhaps this example contributes to the non-approval of EU accounts over many years.

But the submission to Holyrood’s finance committee from the Royal Society of Edinburgh, criticising the variety of “free” services, represents an indictment of devolution itself. The obvious point is that nothing whatsoever is free.

But the submission fails to recognise that, where England opts for tuition charges and top-up fees, there are no Barnett consequences because only tax-borne elements read across to Scotland.

And, of course, so would have any English (UK) relevant tax increase to fund that, although we could apply the 3p income tax opportunity, which would have raised about £1.3bn. If we had always to follow England, then we might as well scrap devolution.

In the case of the EU, and on free university education, it would be better by far for us not to finance the EU, and to retain the existing tax raised here, and be responsible for what we decided to spend our own money on.

And it would obviate much double-checking regarding EU rules.

But, for those who don’t, or won’t, understand the term, that would mean devolution max.

Douglas R Mayer

Thomson Crescent

Currie, Midlothian

Seemingly, Scottish taxpayers are required to repay £100 million wrongly claimed from the EU. The auditor attributes the blame for this on the Scottish Government.

Be that as it may, should the recipients not be asked to return the money paid to them? It is not unknown for the state to claw back payments made in error. Or is this a case of wink, wink, nod, nod, no questions asked, and the taxpayer will fork out as usual?

Fenton Robb

North Street

Eyemouth

For months we have watched rioters on the streets of Athens protesting against Greek austerity measures. Following the eurozone summit, international banks are being asked to relinquish half of the debts owed to them by Greece.

If the bankers are unhappy with this perhaps they should follow the Greek example and start rioting in Threadneedle and Wall streets.

Neil Sinclair

Clarence Street

Edinburgh