Scot's Now Spending Even More Than Ever - Despite Less From Oil & Taxes!!!

12th March 2014

They just don't understand money, do they?


Scots each receive almost £1,300 more public spending than the English despite a sharp drop in the taxes they pay to the UK Exchequer, according to official figures unveiled by Alex Salmond that cast doubt on his case for independence.


Scotland’s deficit – the difference between spending and taxes raised north of the Border– spiralled to 8.3 per cent of GDP in 2012/13, the Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (GERS) has found.


While tax revenues were £800 higher per head in Scotland than the UK as a whole, public spending was £1,267 more per person north of the Border.


The deterioration in Scotland’s finances was caused by a sudden £4.4 billion drop in revenue from oil – a 41.5 per cent fall in North Sea revenues compared to the previous year.


The UK’s deficit fell to 7.3 per cent of GDP over the same period, the report said, leaving Scotland deeper in the red to the tune of £1.5 billion or £283 per person.

The figures threaten to inflict serious damage on Mr Salmond’s economic case for independence, which has repeatedly claimed Scotland is wealthier than the UK as a whole.


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10692466/Scots-each-receive-1300-more-spending-despite-oil-tax-drop.html