20. To ask the Scottish Executive what independence and control over oil revenue would mean for household income in Scotland, given the latest “Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland 2010-11” (GERS) statistics. (S4O-00818)
The latest Government expenditure and revenue Scotland figures show that, including a geographical share of North Sea revenues, Scotland remains in a stronger financial position than the United Kingdom as a whole. Last year, Scotland was in a relatively stronger position by £2.7 billion, which is equivalent to £510 per person.
Perhaps the cabinet secretary can explain to members why it is statistically more appropriate, and good practice, to allocate oil revenues on the basis of geography, rather than on a per capita basis, as some of our unionist colleagues insist on doing.
The GERS document is produced by civil servants and statisticians under a framework of authority that enables it to be judged as a national statistics publication. Its composition, formulation and analysis are undertaken entirely without the input of ministers, and we have no role in the process. The judgments in relation to GERS are arrived at on a professional basis by officials and civil servants, in their professional capacity. The points that Joan McAlpine raises, in essence, are consistent with the professionalism of those statisticians and officials.