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Alex Neil MSP has hit out angrily at Jim Murphy’s Scottish Office after official figures from Scotland’s Chief Economic Advisor showed his figures for Scotland’s contribution to the UK was filled with “methodological errors”. Mr Neil has written to Jim Murphy following his office made errors to the tune of £15billion, and he downplayed Scotland’s economic contribution to the UK. The Chief Economic Advisor’s assessment says that “the results do not give an accurate picture of Scotland’s public finances” and there were “a number of inconsistencies identified”. [1] The Central Scotland MSP, a former economist, says that the official figures from the Chief Economic Advisor show Scotland to be in a far better position than Mr Murphy would allow the Scottish people to believe. Mr Neil said: “I am fed up with Jim Murphy using his position as Scottish Secretary to sneer at Scotland and ridicule Scotland’s economy to try and gain party political advantage. ““This official analysis completely undermines the Jim Murphy’s incorrect claims about Scottish finances, by pointing out basic errors in not counting income such as oil revenues, the fossil fuel levy, water charges, or even the TV licence fee – a whole range of funds collected from Scotland to the tune of £14 billion. “Bizarrely Jim Murphy’s report also counts £1.5 billion of spending which doesn’t actually take place and excludes Council Tax revenues but includes spending by local authorities in Scotland. “We also know from the Pre-Budget Report that £50 billion of North Sea oil revenue will flow to the London exchequer over the coming six years – more than during the previous six, and £10 billion up on the Treasury’s previous forecast. “People can see straight through Jim Murphy’s attempts to cook the books as being nothing more than a ploy to downplay Scotland. “For all of these reasons, independence and equality for Scotland – with full access to our abundant resources – is the best possible option for our nation now and in the future.” Notes: 1. The Chief Economic Advisor’s official assessment of the Scotland Office figures is available at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Economy/17858/exprevscot |
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