Gers figures: Scotland’s public spending deficit rises to £15.1bn

Scotland spent £15.1bn extra on public providers than it raised in taxes final 12 months, in accordance with Scottish authorities statistics.

This public spending deficit was £2bn larger than the earlier 12 months, and represented 8.6% of the nation’s GDP.

The figures cowl the monetary 12 months to five April 2020, so don’t mirror the complete impression of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The deficit for the UK as a complete rose from 1.9% of its GDP to 2.5% for similar the interval.

The statistics additionally estimated that Scotland raised £308 much less per particular person than the UK common in taxation, whereas public spending was £1,663 per particular person larger in Scotland.

The figures have been contained within the annual Authorities Expenditure and Income Scotland (Gers) statistics which has turn into a key battleground within the independence debate in recent times.

They’re compiled by Scottish authorities statisticians freed from political interference, and estimate spending that “advantages the folks of Scotland” by the Scottish authorities, UK authorities, and all different elements of the general public sector in Scotland.

It additionally estimates the full quantity of taxation raised in Scotland, together with a proportional share of UK authorities taxes.

What does the report say?

The report estimated {that a} whole of £81bn was spent by the general public sector in Scotland final 12 months – about £2.5bn greater than the earlier 12 months.

In the meantime, whole revenues have been put at £65.9bn, a rise of 0.7% and the best on report.

However revenues from the North Sea oil and fuel business dropped by £642m to £724bn, which the report stated mirrored a fall within the oil value in the direction of the tip of the 12 months.

North Sea tax receipts introduced in about £11bn a decade in the past.