2. To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the latest “Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland” figures. (S5O-04550)

As the member will know, GERS provides estimates of revenue raised in Scotland and spending for Scotland under the current constitutional arrangements. It does not report on the finances of the Scottish Government. With 40 per cent of the spending in GERS reserved to the United Kingdom Government, along with more than 70 per cent of revenue, what GERS shows is the unsustainable nature of the UK and the need for Scotland to make its own choices.

Does the Cabinet secretary recognise that, if she had her way, Scotland’s fiscal deficit would be higher than the Greek budget deficit was at the height of the financial crisis in 2008?

Having my way now, I am obliged by law to balance the Scottish Government’s budget, which we have done every year. Just a few months ago, Maurice Golden and his colleagues were complaining about the underspend in our budget, which is the by-product of having a Government that, by law, cannot overspend. Now he is saying that there is a deficit. Which is it? Do we have an underspend or a deficit?

With the levers and resources that this Government has, we balance our budget. Like every other country around the world, if we were independent, we would use all the levers at our disposal to manage our public finances far more sustainably than they are currently being managed by the UK Government.

The Deputy Presiding Officer:

Unfortunately, question 5 is from Rachael Hamilton, who cannot get connected. If she gets connected later, I will take her question then.

I will move straight to question 6, from Liam Kerr.