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| Gers figures: Scottish economy deficit cut to £13.3bn | Gers figures: Scottish economy deficit cut to £13.3bn |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Scotland's public spending deficit has been cut to £13.3bn over the past year, according to official Scottish government statistics. | Scotland's public spending deficit has been cut to £13.3bn over the past year, according to official Scottish government statistics. |
| The Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (Gers) report said the figure represented an 8.3% share of Scotland's GDP - triple the UK figure of 2.4%. | The Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (Gers) report said the figure represented an 8.3% share of Scotland's GDP - triple the UK figure of 2.4%. |
| Last year's figures said Scotland £14.8bn more than it raised in taxes, which has now been revised to £14.5bn. | Last year's figures said Scotland £14.8bn more than it raised in taxes, which has now been revised to £14.5bn. |
| The UK's overall deficit has dropped from £121bn in 2012/13 to £46bn now. | The UK's overall deficit has dropped from £121bn in 2012/13 to £46bn now. |
| Scotland had a relatively stronger fiscal position than the UK in 2010/11, but since then the position has been reversed - largely as a result of the collapse in the oil price. | Scotland had a relatively stronger fiscal position than the UK in 2010/11, but since then the position has been reversed - largely as a result of the collapse in the oil price. |
| Economists at Strathclyde University's respected Fraser of Allander institute said the gap of six percentage points between the Scottish and UK deficits was the largest since the annual Gers figures were published on a consistent basis nearly 20 years ago. | Economists at Strathclyde University's respected Fraser of Allander institute said the gap of six percentage points between the Scottish and UK deficits was the largest since the annual Gers figures were published on a consistent basis nearly 20 years ago. |
| Gers was described as the "authoritative publication on Scotland's public finances" in the Scottish government's White Paper on independence ahead of the 2014 referendum, and has been a key battleground in the constitutional debate. | Gers was described as the "authoritative publication on Scotland's public finances" in the Scottish government's White Paper on independence ahead of the 2014 referendum, and has been a key battleground in the constitutional debate. |
| The latest figures estimated that Scotland raised a total of £58bn in the past financial year - the equivalent of 8% of total UK revenue. | The latest figures estimated that Scotland raised a total of £58bn in the past financial year - the equivalent of 8% of total UK revenue. |
| Of this, only £208m was revenue from the North Sea oil and gas industry - an increase from the £56m recorded in 2015/16 but far lower than it had been before the oil price crash, with revenues standing at nearly £8bn in 2011/12. | Of this, only £208m was revenue from the North Sea oil and gas industry - an increase from the £56m recorded in 2015/16 but far lower than it had been before the oil price crash, with revenues standing at nearly £8bn in 2011/12. |
| However, non-North Sea revenue increased from £54.5bn in 2015/16 to £57.8bn. | However, non-North Sea revenue increased from £54.5bn in 2015/16 to £57.8bn. |
| The figures also said that taxpayers in Scotland raise about £300 less on average than those in the UK as a whole, at about £10,700 per person. | The figures also said that taxpayers in Scotland raise about £300 less on average than those in the UK as a whole, at about £10,700 per person. |
| Public spending is also higher in Scotland, according to the figures, with total expenditure by the Scottish government, UK government and other public bodies in Scotland estimated at £71.2bn - 9.2% of total UK public sector expenditure. | Public spending is also higher in Scotland, according to the figures, with total expenditure by the Scottish government, UK government and other public bodies in Scotland estimated at £71.2bn - 9.2% of total UK public sector expenditure. |
| This was equivalent to £13,175 per person, which was £1,437 per person greater than the UK average and nearly £200 per person more than in 2015/16. | This was equivalent to £13,175 per person, which was £1,437 per person greater than the UK average and nearly £200 per person more than in 2015/16. |
| Gers 2016-17: Is there good news for everyone? | |
| Analysis by Philip Sim, BBC Scotland political reporter | Analysis by Philip Sim, BBC Scotland political reporter |
| The Gers figures are generally the excuse for an almighty political bunfight, as battle lines are drawn over how the data is interpreted. | The Gers figures are generally the excuse for an almighty political bunfight, as battle lines are drawn over how the data is interpreted. |
| Maybe this year we can all just get along though, because it seems like there might be good news for everyone in these figures. Scotland's notional deficit is down. The UK's notional deficit is down. The graphs which provide relief from the dense tables of figures in the report have their lines moving in a positive direction. | Maybe this year we can all just get along though, because it seems like there might be good news for everyone in these figures. Scotland's notional deficit is down. The UK's notional deficit is down. The graphs which provide relief from the dense tables of figures in the report have their lines moving in a positive direction. |
| For those hoping this might spell a peaceful final fortnight of parliamentary recess, well, dream on. The figures will be doubly contested this year given the two constitutional lenses they can be viewed through. | For those hoping this might spell a peaceful final fortnight of parliamentary recess, well, dream on. The figures will be doubly contested this year given the two constitutional lenses they can be viewed through. |
| First, there is that of Scottish independence. Scottish ministers are already underlining that this is just the position "under current constitutional arrangements", stressing that no conclusions about the finances of an independent Scotland should be drawn from them. | First, there is that of Scottish independence. Scottish ministers are already underlining that this is just the position "under current constitutional arrangements", stressing that no conclusions about the finances of an independent Scotland should be drawn from them. |
| Unionists, meanwhile, will be quick to play up gaps between UK-wide and Scottish-specific figures - and to note that the 2014 White Paper had projected a rather smaller deficit for 2017, the first year of independence had Yes won the vote. | Unionists, meanwhile, will be quick to play up gaps between UK-wide and Scottish-specific figures - and to note that the 2014 White Paper had projected a rather smaller deficit for 2017, the first year of independence had Yes won the vote. |
| And then, there's Brexit. How does it factor in to all of this? Leavers will contend that they show the economic apocalypse warned of by George Osborne et al in the heat of the 2016 referendum campaign has come to naught. | And then, there's Brexit. How does it factor in to all of this? Leavers will contend that they show the economic apocalypse warned of by George Osborne et al in the heat of the 2016 referendum campaign has come to naught. |
| Remainers will point out, again, that this is the picture "under current constitutional arrangements"; the UK has not yet left the EU and the storm is yet to break, casting a threatening shadow over all this economic progress. | Remainers will point out, again, that this is the picture "under current constitutional arrangements"; the UK has not yet left the EU and the storm is yet to break, casting a threatening shadow over all this economic progress. |
| Responding to the figures, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon insisted that Scotland's economy remained strong, with growth nearly four times faster than the UK in the last quarter and the number of people in employment at a record high. | Responding to the figures, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon insisted that Scotland's economy remained strong, with growth nearly four times faster than the UK in the last quarter and the number of people in employment at a record high. |
| She added: "These figures reflect Scotland's finances under current constitutional arrangements. | She added: "These figures reflect Scotland's finances under current constitutional arrangements. |
| "However, they show that our investment in key industries, such as the life-science sector, is providing a real boost to our onshore economy. By continuing to invest in key sectors, we will ensure Scotland remains a productive and competitive country." | "However, they show that our investment in key industries, such as the life-science sector, is providing a real boost to our onshore economy. By continuing to invest in key sectors, we will ensure Scotland remains a productive and competitive country." |
| 'Cause for concern' | 'Cause for concern' |
| The first minister said it was "encouraging" to see an improvement in the overall fiscal balance and that onshore revenues grew at their fastest rate in nearly 20 years. | The first minister said it was "encouraging" to see an improvement in the overall fiscal balance and that onshore revenues grew at their fastest rate in nearly 20 years. |
| But she repeated her warnings that the country's long-term economic success was being threatened by Brexit. | But she repeated her warnings that the country's long-term economic success was being threatened by Brexit. |
| The UK government's Scottish secretary, David Mundell, said the Scottish government figures were a "cause for concern" and showed there was still much to be done to improve Scotland's economy. | The UK government's Scottish secretary, David Mundell, said the Scottish government figures were a "cause for concern" and showed there was still much to be done to improve Scotland's economy. |
| He added: "They also highlight the value of pooling and sharing resources around the UK. Being part of a strong UK has protected our living standards, and that's one reason the people of Scotland clearly rejected Nicola Sturgeon's plan for a second independence referendum at the election. | He added: "They also highlight the value of pooling and sharing resources around the UK. Being part of a strong UK has protected our living standards, and that's one reason the people of Scotland clearly rejected Nicola Sturgeon's plan for a second independence referendum at the election. |
| "Scotland's deficit is falling at a slower rate than the UK as a whole and economic growth is lagging behind. It is vital we grow the economy and we want to work with the Scottish government to achieve that." | "Scotland's deficit is falling at a slower rate than the UK as a whole and economic growth is lagging behind. It is vital we grow the economy and we want to work with the Scottish government to achieve that." |
| GERS 2016-17: Extracts from Table 1.3. The numbers listed refer to the difference compared with the rest of the UK. | |
| What has been the reaction to the figures? | What has been the reaction to the figures? |