Mutual interests

In my letter (27 February) I had thought it unnecessary to state that I was aware there was a government in Scotland. The point I was making was that many of Scotland’s government functions are taken by the Westminster government in London.

If Andrew HN Gray (Letters, 28 February) reads my letter more carefully he will notice that I referred to “many types of jobs” and “government-
related jobs” so had implied that not only the public sector but also the private sector feed off 
government spending.

Being an Edinburgh dweller, Mr Gray must be aware of the influx of jobs which the Edinburgh government has attracted, many of these in the private sector, not just in the public sector which he so derides.

It is often implied that public and private workers are different, mutually exclusive animals. However, those employed in the public sector often move to the private sector, becoming entrepreneurs, and those in the private sector move to the public sector bringing their skills and knowledge.

The two sectors have a synergetic relationship. So keeping as many graduates as possible in Scotland, whether in the public sector or related private entrepreneurial sector, can only be beneficial to both sectors and to Scotland.

While there will be additional public servants in Scotland, the point is that a proportion of Scottish taxes goes towards paying for these public sector jobs currently based in London and spending in London; if they move to Scotland they will be spending in Scotland.

I agree with Mr Gray that we need more apprenticeships, vocational training, manufacturers and salespeople to sell internationally – not only graduates are entrepreneurs. In fact, non-
graduates are more incentivised to become entrepreneurs to move from mundane jobs and/or increase their income.

Jim Stamper

Burnside Road

Rutherglen