6. To ask the Scottish Government whether it remains committed to publishing an alternative to the annual “Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland” report. (S5O-04554)

Thankfully, over the past few months, my single focus has been on balancing the budget to pay for personal protective equipment, ensure that businesses get grants and fund public services. As it is, I believe that GERS offers one of the most persuasive arguments as to why the current constitutional arrangements are unsustainable, and the United Kingdom Government’s policy choices that are allocated to the Scottish budget are the source of the challenge.

I am not sure that that was an answer to my question. In any event, many members of the Government are on record as suggesting that fiscal transfers from the UK to Scotland are a sign of failure and should be stopped. Given that there have been significant fiscal transfers from Aberdeen in the north-east to the central belt for years, with appalling funding settlements for NHS Grampian and our local authorities, does the cabinet secretary intend to cease such transfers and ensure that the north-east gets its fair share?

We continue to ensure that every part of Scotland gets the investment that it needs to progress its agenda. This year’s programme for government ensures that that is the case once again.

On fiscal transfers, the member does not need to take my word for it. He can listen to his own Prime Minister, who talks about the need to “level up”. He says that precisely because, right now, the way in which public finances are managed across the UK is unfair and unsustainable. Apparently, the winning argument from the unionists is that they celebrate mediocrity, short-term thinking and unsustainability. That is probably why more and more people in Scotland know that our society and our economy would be fairer and more prosperous under independence.

The Deputy Presiding Officer:

I can now take question 5, from Rachael Hamilton.