I am at a loss to understand why the English complain vehemently about having to pay council tax (Oxford Mail, March 5) when they are happy to pay for the Scots to enjoy free care for the elderly, free medical prescriptions and not pay university top-up fees.

The English taxpayer has just made a massive contribution to the building of Holyrood (cost £450m) to house Scotland's Parliament, and a good chunk of the £27m paid so that people can travel to and from the Isle of Skye without paying a fee to cross the Skye bridge.

I simply don't understand why the English are happy to hand over this money to Scotland when it could be used to reduce the council tax in England. It's a funny old world.

JOHN SANDALLS (Dr)

Locks Lane, Wantage