Look at the figures

Dear Editor

With reference to Mr Andrew’s letter (News, August 10) he is very honest and brave to admit he got his figures wrong on deficit/debts as he was working on the wrong data.

He then points out in 2012 – 2013, 9.1 per cent of UK revenue came from Scotland, but our population was only 8.3 per cent, thus suggesting we are paying more per head of population than our fair share He goes on to say that, according to ‘a study by experts at the University of Aberdeen, if North Sea oil and gas were split on North Sea fishery boundaries we would receive 84.2 per cent of the tax revenues, further enhancing our tax receipts’.

The fact is, the Government Expenditure & Revenue Scotland (GERS) report for 2012 – 2013 states that the 9.1 per cent includes the illustrative geographical share of North Sea revenue which is 84.2 per cent of total North Sea revenues and is in line exactly with the university study. So, there is no extra revenue from that source.

The calculation of the geographical share is supplied by the Scottish Government Marine Directorate. If we exclude the oil and gas revenues, Scotland’s contribution to UK would be 8.2 per cent, compared to a population of 8.3 per cent

The GERS report for 2014 – 2015 shows Scotland has a similar contribution to UK total revenue at 8.2 per cent, falling from 9.1 per cent, due to Scotland’s North Sea revenues being much lower at £1.08 billion (80 per cent) for 2014 – 2015 from £5.581 billion (84.2 per cent) in 2012 – 2013.

There are no theories, suppositions, expectations, or wrong data in this letter, only facts. Anyone can check the data by going on the internet (For 2012 – 2013 go to www.gov. scot/Publications/2014/03/7888. For 2014 – 2015, www.gov.scot/ Publications/2016/03/3692.

Peter Dawson, West Mains