GERS SURPLUS SHOWS INDEPENDENT SCOTLAND WOULD PROSPER

£2.3 BILLION BUDGET BONUS FOR SCOTLAND

SCOTLAND’S RESOURCES PROPPING UP GORDON BROWN’S OVERDRAFT

SNP MP and Treasury Spokesman Stewart Hosie has welcomed the publication of Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland 2007/08 which in highlighting Scotland’s £2.3 billion three year surplus confirms Scotland’s ability to prosper as an independent country and adds to the
case for full fiscal autonomy.

The three year surplus, in contrast to UK Government deficit over the same period puts pay to the claims of the Calman Commission on fiscal autonomy and to the Scotland Office’s contrived efforts to fiddle the figures.

Commenting on the publication of Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland report 2007-08 which confirms Scotland’s economic potential Treasury Spokesman Stewart Hosie MP said;

“With this three year surplus of £2.3 billion even GERS is showing Scotland would be in a far healthier financial position than the UK as a whole.

“It is clear that the flow of resources is from Scotland to the rest of the UK, not the other way round and with oil revenues projected to reach £13 billion in 2008/09 Labour’s ridiculous attempts to talk down Scotland’s economy and fiddle the figures have been exposed.

“Even before this recession Scotland’s revenues have been propping up Gordon Brown’s overdraft instead of being invested in our economic future.

“In fact these latest figures are only the most recent to show Scotland in a consistently stronger financial position than the UK as a whole with far more sustainable revenue and expenditure.

“The SNP have long known that Scotland could flourish as an independent country, now GERS shows that Scotland would be a prosperous nation with a budget surplus.

“Today’s GERS figures, added to those of the last two years finally put to rest the daft arguments spouted by the London based parties for years. The naysayers and doom-mongers of Scotland’s economic future will need to rethink their position.”

“With Independence and full fiscal autonomy Scotland will be well placed to thrive, as we invest our resources in Scotland’s future.”