Sir, – I was surprised to read Euan MacPherson (June 24th) suggesting that a newly independent Scotland (population 5,500,000) might take over running Northern Ireland (population 1,820,000).
The standard of living in Northern Ireland depends absolutely upon the subvention remitted to it by the treasury in London.
Taxes gathered and spent in Northern Ireland are insufficient and it is estimated that a further £5 billion is paid annually by the taxpayers in the rest of the United Kingdom to maintain Northern Ireland. The British government does not publish this kind of detail.
I do not imagine any canny and independently minded Scot would want to have such an expensive piece of real-estate – without any prospect of a payback – in a “United Kingdom of Scotland and Northern Ireland”! – Yours, etc.
GERARD CARTON,
Prinstead Close,
Winchester,
Hampshire,
England.