Scottish economy: GERS figures to spell out oil-slump impact
Scottish economy: Figures show deficit rise
(about 1 hour later)
Scotland's latest public finance figures are expected to spell out the impact of the oil price slump on the country's economy.
Scotland's deficit in the last financial year was almost £15bn - just under 10% of economic output, figures have shown.
The annual Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (GERS) statistics are to be unveiled by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon at 09:30.
For the third year in a row, the Scottish figure is higher than the deficit for the UK as a whole, which is just under 5% of economic output.
Scottish government sources have acknowledged that the figures are likely to be "challenging".
The statistics come from the Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (GERS) bulletin for 2014-15.
But, ministers insist the overall economy remains robust.
Ministers insisted the foundations of the Scottish economy remained strong.
Last year, the figures suggested Scotland's economic picture had improved but remained worse than the UK average.
The figures contain details of the Scottish economy up to April 2015 and are the first to reflect the sharp fall in oil and gas revenues.
The latest set - for the year 2014/15 - will feature the full impact of the sharp decline in the value of North Sea oil and gas, which has led to the loss of tens of thousands of jobs in the industry.
They show the net fiscal balance for the year, which is the difference between current revenue and total public expenditure.
Detailed analysis
It reports a deficit of £16.7bn, excluding North Sea oil revenue.
The figures are compiled by statisticians and economists working for the Scottish government's chief economic adviser through detailed analysis of official UK and Scottish government finance statistics.
When an "illustrative share" of North Sea oil revenue was included, the deficit was £14.9bn - 9.7% of GDP.
Their report is designed to help people understand and analyse Scotland's financial position under different scenarios.
For the UK as a whole, the deficit was £89bn, or 4.9% of GDP.
Last year's figures suggested that people in Scotland paid £400 more in tax than the UK as a whole in 2013/14, but they also received £1,200 more in spending.
The revenue included taxation from the oil and gas industry deemed to be in Scottish waters.
The figures also suggested:
Speaking ahead of the release of the latest figures, Scottish Labour predicted they would show that Scotland "would have faced huge public spending cuts under full fiscal autonomy and will underline the importance of the fiscal framework deal which will keep the Barnett formula."
It has called for a ministerial statement on the figures to be made in the Scottish Parliament, and renewed its call for a quarterly oil and gas bulletin, with a focus of the impact of the failing price of oil on jobs and the supply chain.
The party's Jackie Baillie said: "With new powers coming to Scotland we need deeper scrutiny of Scotland's finances than ever before. The SNP government have a responsibility to be honest to the people of Scotland about the balance sheet."
