Oil and water

Andrew Gray (Letters, 15 January) speculates about Shetland’s interest in the oil fields. In 
international law, countries control their own territorial 
waters. Scotland is a country which entered into a voluntary treaty in 1707, and in law it remains a country. When we regain our independence, we will regain our waters.

He also suggests we only have £1.5 trillion worth of oil left and may only be able to extract 30 per cent of it. He may have misunderstood Professor Kemp (of Aberdeen University) who talked of extracting 50 per cent of gas and oil reserves. I believe Norway is now planning to extract 60 per cent.

Any other country would be delighted to have such a bountiful asset. Only opponents of independence see oil as a liability.

Yes, oil prices fluctuate, but they ain’t making any more of it, and £1.5 trillion (£1.5 million, million) is better than a slap in the face with a wet fish.

Alison Wallace

Charterhall Grove

Edinburgh

David Hannay (Letters, 16 January), perhaps unwittingly, perpetuates the myth that following independence the people of 
Scotland will become estranged from their friends and family in England.

I do not expect my relationships with my close family and dear friends in England to change, any more than my relationship with friends and relatives in other countries such as Ireland, South Africa, the US and Australia, to name but a few, will.

My friends and relatives throughout the world tell me they are perfectly relaxed about the prospect of Scottish independence, with the great majority supporting our efforts to take charge of our own destiny.

Douglas Turner

Derby Street

Edinburgh

If Scotland becomes independent will my state pension continue to be paid to me without interruption? I have read nothing about this point, which will affect almost every pensioner in an
independent Scotland.

Tom Reilly

Esslemont Road

Edinburgh