Short changed

Peter Jones is being disingenuous when he refers to “per capita spending” as if it told the whole story (Perspective, 23 April).

Revenue from Scotland to the UK Treasury in London is almost twice as much as comes back in the Barnett Formula “block grant”. Out of the “grant”, which is around half of what has been contributed, the Scottish Government must pay the entire costs of Trident, Coulport, Faslane and Aldermaston, around £1.9 billion every year.

And, to add insult to injury, the Ministry of Defence never spends the due proportion of its budget in Scotland.

On the general principle of devolving taxes, the people of Scotland voted Yes to tax-
raising powers, but were fobbed off with an “income tax varying power” which was unusable (it could give Scotland a loss only) and cost a great deal annually to service, even if never used.

Susan FG Forde

Scotlandwell, Kinross-shire