Shorter lives

On 9 March you reported on the publication by the Registrar General of birth, death and marriage statistics for 2011. In the accompanying commentary, Professor Robert Wright concluded that, “worryingly”, life expectancy in Scotland is “similar to much poorer east European countries such as Poland, Czech Republic and Slovenia” and that there is no evidence that we are catching up on other rich countries, in particular England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

When Scottish Secretary Michael Moore is moved in future to utter his ubiquitous phrase “Scotland is better off within the Union”, he should reflect on Prof Wright’s words.

ALAN R IRONS

Woodrow Road

Glasgow