What is this man talking about?
The reduction in prescription charges comes out of the Scottish block grant.
It costs the UK taxpayer nothing extra, despite what Angus Macloed tries to imply.
If the rest of the UK wants to get rid of these charges, then stop complaining and get your own politicians to follow our lead.
Bear in mind also, that Scottish students will continue to pay fees to English universities when they go there.
MacLeod's argument is inconsistent, contentious and provocative.
The Scottish block grant is used, by the Scottish Executive, to focus on ares of concern here in Scotland.
If that is contrary to how Westminster spends its money, too bad.
This is devolved government, and it works.

Andrew Sharp, Stirling,

“The SNP are trying to provoke outrage in England in order to try and fracture the Union,” he said."

So the Scots are always to copy England whether they agree with it or not simply because the English will get annoyed otherwise? Typical English chauvinism. The Scots have been annoyed by English policies imposed on them for many years so does that not count? How arrogant.

Kate, Edinburgh,

It's not the snp provoking outrage. The were elected in Scotland to govern Scotland. That's democracy. What's happening in England is dictatorship by stealth.

Gordon Brown is the one provoking outrage. His refusal to allow England its own Parliament and his insistence on ruling our country, when no one ever elected him as ruler of England, is the outrage that we should be speaking of.

The snp may be the democratic government of Scotland, but New Labour is turning England into nothing less than a communist dictatorship.

They will pay the price for this outrage.

Carol Banks, carlisle, England

If Londoners got the same funding formula as Scotland, Londoners would receive an extra 4 billion Pounds a year in spending. How many hospitals will be closed, how many NHS staff will be made redundant etc in England so that taxes raised in England are sent to Scotland to subsidise their spending proposals.

If the Scots want to have free prescriptions and no students fees - fine let them pay for it themselves; the Scottish Parliament has tax raising powers.

Derek Tomnay, Fulham, London

I agree with D Paterson. Gordon Brown was the main instigator for the break up of the UK, but he still wants to rule England as if nothing has happened.
English workers are being milked to pay for celt socialism, let them go their own way and pay for it them selves.

Tally, Durham, England

The SNP is only introducing policies in Scotland that we would like to see implemented in England too but unfortunately we don't have an English Parliament to carry out the will of the English people - MPs from Scotland voted to impose top-up tuition fees on students in England. If as Mr Blair says we can't have 'two classes of MPs' at Westminster (though some would say that we already do) then the only thing left is for a separate English Parliament to pass laws for England and from which the English Executive and First Minister would be selected.
Significantly, none of the Labour Deputy Leadership hopefuls has anything useful to say about this.

Ian Campbell, West Horsley, England

As for Us English taxes paying for it .What a lot of Lies .It seems we are trying to irritate the Scots as well!
As an Englishman i find that Scots-Unionists are the only ones coming across as Scots-Scroungers.Theres nothing wrong with SNp wanting Scotland to stand up on its own,Good luck to the scots.

D Paterson, Lancashire,

Devolved matter,nothing to do with the 'generosity' of the English tax payer,a great deal to do with the Scottish tax payer.
I am sick and tired of reading the Scots have more per head than the English.One of those 'keep saying it and people will believe it' along with '45 minutes to build a shelter from the Iraq threat'
Tosh and balderdash!
To Michael Forsyth,had he any interest in Scotland whatsoever he should have kept up with what actually happened.So far, a man who consorts with ex terrorists ,has managed to congratulate all and sundry on their election to the various devolved parliaments with the notable exception of the new First Minister of Scotland.
He has also failed to clarify the mis -givings over the transfer of the Lockerbie bomber.
I understand the cries if unfair over university fees,might I suggest that the English and Welsh and those in Northern Ireland vote for the party with their interests at heart next time round!!

Disgusted Dorothy, Glasgow, Scotland

I am getting sick and tired listening to all this English whinging. What Scotland does with its money is up to the Scottish people and no one else. If the people of England wanted these measures brought in, then why for heavens sake did no one campaign for it. All that needs be done is to chose a Government that suits you needs.

Mr Brown, london, sussex

I'm sick of being told that I am being subsidised.
It's a shame that purported Scots like Michael Forsyth take this anti-Scottish view, but then he never really has learnt the lesson taught to him and his anti-Scottish party in 1997. This view appears common amongst the Scottish Tories and pretty much explains why they only have one elected MP. You can't teach old dogs new tricks.

There is of course a simple solution to all this:
Scotland raises and spends its own taxes, either under fiscal autonomy or, better still, full independence. That way we can manage our own finances and we wouldn't have to suffer these ongoing accusations.

And for the record I would share the concerns of most English people about Scottish MPs voting on English matters. They shouldn't be allowed. I too am concerned as neither I nor anyone else in Scotland wants Trident, ID Cards, or foreign wars. Again, the simple solution is to make all the Scottish MPs, and the UNion itself, redundant.

Islay Herald, Islay, Scotland

How interesting, just as we in England are about to have to pay yet another £20 per visit to a Doctor if we want to see them after 5pm. I wonder if this new charge on the English will be paying for yet another 'freebie' for the Scottish? It's about time the English started to protest, we are becoming very much second class citizens aren't we?

Judy , Liverpool, england