DEREK Mackay and Michael Matheson are struggling with the basic arithmetic and processes of the Finance and Justice briefs at Holyrood.

At least their predecessors, John Swinney and Kenny MacAskill, were qualified accountants and lawyers, skills that enabled them to keep a lid on things with thicker smoke and much shinier mirrors than their successor seem to have been able to do.

Derek Mackay and Michael Matheson’s ears must be ringing with the clatter of wheels coming off and up to their necks in biodegradable “matter” that has hit the thousands of uneconomic wind turbine “fans” that have ruined our countryside.

Allan Sutherland,

1 Willow Row,

Stonehaven.