WIREDGOV

A National Statistics Publication for Scotland.

Scotland’s Chief Statistician yesterday announced the release of Government Expenditure & Revenue Scotland (GERS) 2012-13. This report is the twentieth in the series of published estimates of expenditure and revenue balances relating to the public sector in Scotland.

The key results for 2012-13 are as follows:

In 2012-13, total Scottish onshore public sector revenue was estimated at £47.6 billion, (8.2 per cent of total UK onshore revenue). Including a population share of North Sea revenue, total Scottish public sector revenue was estimated at £48.1 billion (8.2 per cent of UK total public sector revenue). When an illustrative geographical share of North Sea revenue is included, total Scottish public sector revenue was estimated at £53.1 billion (9.1 per cent of UK total public sector revenue).

In 2012-13, total public sector expenditure for the benefit of Scotland by the UK Government, Scottish Government and all other parts of the public sector, plus a per capita share of UK debt interest payments, was £65.2 billion. This is equivalent to 9.3 per cent of total UK public sector expenditure.

In 2012-13, the estimated current budget balance for the public sector in Scotland (the difference between current revenue and current expenditure i.e. excluding capital investment) was a deficit of £14.2 billion (11.2 per cent of GDP) excluding North Sea revenue, a deficit of £13.6 billion (10.6 per cent of GDP) including a per capita share of North Sea revenue or a deficit of £8.6 billion (5.9 per cent of GDP) including an illustrative geographical share of North Sea revenue.

In 2012-13, the UK as a whole ran a current budget deficit, including 100 per cent of North Sea revenue, of £91.9 billion (5.8 per cent of GDP).

In 2012-13, Scotland’s estimated net fiscal balance (the difference between public sector revenue and total public sector expenditure including capital expenditure) was a deficit of £17.6 billion (14.0 per cent of GDP) when excluding North Sea revenue, a deficit of £17.1 billion (13.3 per cent of GDP) when including a per capita share of North Sea revenue or a deficit of £12.1 billion (8.3 per cent of GDP) when a geographical share of North Sea revenue is included.

In 2012-13, the equivalent UK position including 100 per cent of North Sea revenue, referred to in the UK Public Sector Finances as net borrowing, was a deficit of £114.8 billion (or 7.3 per cent of GDP).

The figures released today were produced by independent statistical staff free from any political interference, in accordance with professional standards set out in the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.

Notes to editors

The full statistical publication can be accessed at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Economy/GERS

The aim of GERS is to enhance public understanding of fiscal issues in Scotland. It estimates the contribution of revenue raised in Scotland towards the goods and services provided for the benefit of Scotland. The estimates in this publication are consistent with the UK Public Sector Finance Statistics published in February 2014.

Further information on Economy statistics within Scotland can be accessed at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/topics/statistics/browse/economy

Official statistics are produced by professionally independent statistical staff – more information on the standards of official statistics in Scotland can be accessed at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/About