Scottish National Party
Sir: I enjoyed Jim Higgins's article on the Troon conference of the Scottish Labour Party, pardon, The Council of the Labour Party in Scotland.
I note with surprise, indeed astonishment, that Mr Higgins has found the policy of the SNP post-independence to be 'incoherent'. Obviously I must accept his statement as having been made in good faith, which would imply that he has taken the trouble and time to read the various policy documents, pamphlets, brochures, manifestos etc. of the SNP. If he has not done his homework I wonder if he has been as fair as he should be to his readers. What makes me feel that perhaps his homework has been somewhat neglected is his reference to the 'Scottish Nationalist Party'. In fact this is not what SNP stands for.
The policy of the SNP—which for Mr Higgins's benefit stands for the Scottish National Party—is to have a rate of oil depletion similar to that of Norway, so that the good years should be around for quite a long while to come. Also, of course, the cost of acquisition will be nil. Our revenue from the oil-wells will be by way of taxes and royalties; ownership is irrelevant.
Winifred Ewing House of Commons, London SW1
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