Scotland pays its own way

The Herald, 2 November 2007, has demonstrated that Scotland pays its own way, unlike many parts of England.

Scotching the myth // Why the figures being peddled by Scotland’s critics just don’t add up

Public Spending in Scotland - £9631 per head
Public Spending in London - £9748 per head

The tax take from Scotland - £49 billion
Total public spending in Scotland - £49 billion

Scotland brings in £9593 per head in tax - more than anywhere in the UK outside London.

London's Crossrail project is to cost £16 billion - seven and a half times the annual Scottish transport budget. The 2012 Olympics is to be in London.

Tax per head and public spending per head in thousands of pounds (figures rounded down):

Scotland
Tax 9
Spending 9

North East of England
Tax 6
Spending 10

North West of England
Tax 6
Spending 8

Yorkshire and Humberside
Tax 6
Spending 8

East Midlands
Tax 7
Spending 7

West Midlands
Tax 6
Spending 7

East
Tax 7
Spending 7

South West
Tax 7
Spending 8

London
Tax 10
Spending 9

South East
Tax 9
Spending 7

Alex Salmond says that if Scotland is given direct control of North Sea oil and gas it could be the third-wealthiest country in Europe and the sixth-richest in the world. ‘Challenge to the party is to inspire a generation’

Salmond has pointed out that England, particularly London, benefits heavily from spending on UK departments such as defence and the Treasury. Let us control North Sea oil - Salmond



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