The Scottish Government's decision to contest a Sunday Herald journalist's request to see the "risk register" drawn up by the Government's International Division seems to be much about protecting the officials involved as it is about protecting politicians (Anger as Salmond refuses to reveal secret dossier on risks of independence referendum, News, August 12).
The quality of advice being tendered is, however, a matter of legitimate public debate. It would have enriched debate in 1975 if the report by the then chief economist at the old Scottish Office (Dr Gavin McCrone) on The Economics of Nationalism Re-Examined had been published at the time.
I had to wait till 2005 to cast a professional eye over McCrone's assessment after his report finally found itself in the hands of Alex Salmond – who then used it as an SNP recruiting tool. A final section began: "This paper has shown that the advent of North Sea oil has completely overturned the traditional economic arguments used against Scottish nationalism." Ministers should have the courage of their convictions. Arguments for Scottish independence are persuasive and far too important to be held behind closed civil service doors.
Neil Robertson
Dundee
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