Spending trap

Alex Orr (Letters, 6 January) refers to the new report showing that Scotland is the third highest region in the UK in terms of added value per capita. To be precise, it shows that added value per capita here is 99 per cent of the UK average. He thinks this demonstrates the case for independence, but, as we are doing so well in the UK, then it surely shows that there is also a strong case for the status quo.

It is reassuring to read that Scotland is doing reasonably well, although much of the added value is no doubt related to oil revenues rather than employment. What neither the report nor Mr Orr mentions is the well-documented fact that public spending per capita in Scotland is 16 per cent higher than it is in the UK as a whole, despite our average economic output. How is this difference going to be financed if we go independent? Or are we going to spend even less on our broken roads, on our health provision and on our schools? Why would we want to walk away from this largesse from the UK taxpayer?

Donald McBride

Craigleith Hill Crescent

Edinburgh