Northern subsidy

Whether or not Scotland subsidises the rest of the UK (your report, 19 January) depends on the criteria used. It would, however, seem that First Minister Alex Salmond considers proving Scotland's economic viability crucial to the independence quest.

I wonder what would be Mr Salmond's view if a chunk of the north of Scotland, say from an imaginary line through Pitlochry, wanted to go it alone without the rest of Scotland? With the remaining oil, agriculture, fishing and forestry, lucrative tourism and most of the whisky, I think we would be pretty much self-sufficient. How viable that would leave the rest of you I have no idea and I wonder if the SNP leader would remain in Buchan or be sent hamewards tae think again?

LAWRENCE FRASER

Mayne Road

Elgin, Moray