I am in a state of bemusement at the Labour Party's resistance to hand over £30m in attendance allowance, withdrawn by the UK government after free personal care for the elderly was introduced north of the border.

How ironic that the recent vote in the Scottish Parliament, which gave the SNP government the mandate to go to Westminster to demand this £30m, should come on the day that it was revealed that soaring oil prices, now at $126.40 a barrel, have created a £505m windfall for the UK Treasury in just six weeks.

Any other normal nation would use such a wonderful windfall for the benefit of its people. Why should Scotland be any different?

Alex Orr, Flat 8, 35 Bryson Road, Edinburgh.