The Scottish office says that Scotlands economy will slow in 1998, and that in 1997 second quarter exports fell by 380 million to 4.2 billion pounds.

It makes me sick to read this when in the same breath London and Westminster are wringing their sticky little hands as North Sea (Scottish water) oil and gas revenues are set to boom.

Why must Scotland GIVE its oil and gas to London?

Do you see the Americans or Arab states giving oil away?

The Scottish parliament needs to show a great deal of spine and deal with this matter early on.

No more free handouts of gas and oil to the South of the border.