With new GERS figures out today, Rachael Hamilton MSP and John Lamont MP have highlighted the strength and security of the Borders being part of the United Kingdom.
The annual Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland figures show that public spending in Scotland reached £99.2 billion in 2020-21.
The ‘Union dividend’, the combined value of higher spending and lower revenue, has increased to £2,210 per person from £1,941 last year.
Further to this, increased spending on the pandemic amounted to £17.2 billion, the equivalent to more than £3,100 per person in Scotland.
As a percentage of GDP, Scotland’s deficit increased to 22.4%. Whilst across the UK, the deficit rose to 14.2%.
Both Mrs Hamilton and Mr Lamont have emphasised that the pooling and sharing of resources across the UK has helped Scotland through the worst of the pandemic, firmly setting a course for recovery through unprecedented financial support from HM Treasury.
Despite this, they have also raised concerns that the Scottish Government is failing to attract new businesses and grow the rural economy in the Borders, as we emerge from the pandemic.
Rachael Hamilton said:
“These new figures demonstrate the might of the United Kingdom, without which, people would be £2,210 worse off each year.
“The Scottish Government’s own figures show clearly how much Scotland benefits from being part of a strong United Kingdom, with the pooling and sharing of resources that brings.
“People across the Borders, year after year, benefit from levels of public spending well above the United Kingdom average.
“In times of crisis, Scottish jobs and public services are safer because we better together in one United Kingdom.
“There is a real lack of direction from the SNP Government on how it plans to help the Borders recover after the devastating impact of the pandemic.
“We need to see the SNP Government act now to grow Scotland’s economy, following years of fiscal incompetency caused by their failed economic policies”.
John Lamont MP:
“From the furlough scheme to government backed loans for businesses, the support from the British government has been huge.
“Put simply, as part of the UK we Scots receive higher public spending than would be the case outside of the Union.
“Of course, these GERS figures only highlight the financial benefits of remaining in the Union.
“With the highly successful UK wide vaccine procurement, the work of our Armed Forces in building Covid-19 hospitals and testing centres, and our shared culture and values as a society show that the importance of the union is far deeper than just our wallets.
“To help rebalance Scotland’s balance sheet, the SNP need to start investing in our economy and help us build back better and greener from the pandemic.”
