To ask the Scottish Executive what the local economic output of Stirling was in each of the last three years for which figures are available, also showing annual percentage changes.

The Scottish Executive does not estimate economic output for particular geographic areas. However, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) publish regional Gross Value Added (GVA) figures, which are the recognised method for measuring economic output, for all Nomenclature of territorial units for statistics level 3 (NUTS3) areas in the UK. Further information is available at http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=14650 .

The following table shows the latest available GVA figures for the NUTS3 area of Perth and Kinross and Stirling for 2002 to 2004, including annual percentage changes.

Headline¹ Gross Value Added (GVA)² for Perth and Kinross and Stirling NUTS3 Area at Current Basic Prices, 2002 to 2004

Notes:

1. The headline GVA series for this publication have been calculated using a five-period moving average.

2. Estimates of workplace based GVA allocate income to the region in which commuters work.

3. Estimates of annual percentage change relate to current price GVA and are therefore not equivalent to basic price economic growth measures such as quarterly GDP estimates.

GVA data are not produced below NUTS 3 level.