Scottish public spending deficit grows as oil income drops once more

Scottish Secretary Ian Murray mentioned the Gers figures confirmed Scots profit from greater public spending than the UK common – that means “more money for schools, hospitals and policing, if the Scottish Parliament chooses to invest in those areas”.

But he additionally claimed “people in Scotland will rightly expect to see better outcomes” for these greater spending ranges.

Murray mentioned: “These figures underline the collective economic strength of the United Kingdom and how Scotland benefits from the redistribution of wealth inside the UK.

“By sharing sources with one another throughout the UK, Scots profit by £2,669 extra per head in public spending than the UK common.”

The Scottish Conservatives’ finance spokesman Craig Hoy said the Gers figures highlighted the “large, and rising, Union dividend”.

He added: “If we misplaced that – as we’d if the SNP achieved their aim of Scottish independence – it will have a catastrophic influence on the nation’s funds.”

The business group CBI Scotland described the further widening of the deficit as “disappointing information for corporations and households alike”.

The lobbying body’s director, Michelle Ferguson, said it was “very important that each the Scottish and UK governments proceed to again enterprise by means of this tough interval”.

She added: “This contains accelerating the event of inexperienced freeports, committing to infrastructure funding, enhancing digital connectivity, and reforming planning methods to unlock new funding, create higher jobs, and safe sustainable long-term development.”