Yes, vital research funding for Scottish universities comes from the UK (Pennington says Yes vote would hit research funding, News, November 18).

The UK gets money from taxes and resources from Scotland, some of which comes back to us. With independence, any Scottish government will wish to ensure that vital research continues and that it is funded from Scottish resources – probably more generously that at present. Independence will let us choose our own priorities. A Scottish Government is likely to support university research and to cancel Trident nuclear missiles – which will make more money available.

David Stevenson

Edinburgh