Nicola Sturgeon: getting on with the job
By David Livey

Today Nicola Sturgeon delivered a speech on Scotland’s future, and launched the first phase of the SNP’s new independence initiative.

Here are the key points from the speech.

A firm focus on the big challenges

While the Tories dither in Westminster, the Scottish Government is getting on with the job of good government, with a firm focus on the big challenges ahead.

Next week the Scottish Government will publish the Programme for Government for the year ahead. It will include measures to support the Scottish economy through Brexit uncertainty; tackle the attainment gap, equip our NHS for the challenges of the future, and much more.

Protecting Scotland’s interests in Europe

Nicola Sturgeon made clear the Scottish Government will do all it can to protect Scotland’s relationship with the EU.

As the UK government develops its position ahead of triggering Article 50, the Scottish Government will use its influence to shape the best (or least bad) outcome for Scotland, and the UK as a whole. That means the UK continuing as a member of the Single Market. Find out more about what that means here.

The expert group appointed to advise the Scottish Government on Scotland’s relationship with Europe is working on a range of options to protect what matters most to Scotland, and considering the new powers Scotland would need to make these options work.

The biggest listening exercise in the SNP’s history

Nicola Sturgeon launched the first phase in our new independence initiative – the biggest listening exercise in our party’s history, which will reach out to 2 million people in Scotland before St Andrew’s Day. The information and insight we gather will inform the next stage of our campaign.

Members of the public can take part in The National Survey to give their views on Europe, Brexit, and independence, and set out concerns and questions they have.

The SNP’s 120,000 members have been challenged to engage with five people each month for the next three months. This will take place alongside doorstep activism, and town-hall events throughout the country hosted by SNP parliamentarians.

A new Growth Commission

A new Party Growth Commission will inform thinking on how growth can be sustained in the post-Brexit climate. The Commission will consider a programme to grow Scotland’s economy and reduce the deficit in the context of independence, as well as monetary arrangements.

While its work will inform SNP policy, the group will seek views from across the political spectrum. The full membership of the Commission will be published alongside its remit within the next two weeks, and will draw on a range of economic, academic and business expertise.

Article Source: http://www.snp.org/nicola_sturgeon_s_speech_getting_on_with_the_job

SNP government: the first 100 days
By Liam Furby
(Article Source http://www.snp.org/snp_scottish_government_100_days)

It has been 100 days since Nicola Sturgeon was sworn in as First Minister following her re-election.

From launching Scotland’s labour market strategy to taking action to secure Scotland’s continued place in Europe, here’s what your re-elected SNP government has done in the last 100 days

Scotland’s finances: economic recovery in the EU or economic retreat with Brexit
By David Livey

Today the Scottish Government published Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland – or ‘GERS’ for short – for the year 2015-16. GERS is produced annually and provides estimates of total public spending in Scotland, as well as tax receipts for the previous five years.

Here’s what you need to know.

Growth in Scotland’s onshore economy more than offset a decline in offshore revenue.

GERS for 2015-16 shows that Scotland’s onshore economy – excluding North Sea revenues – continues to do well. In the last financial year onshore revenues increased by £1.9 billion. Since 2011-12, onshore tax receipts have grown at about the same rate as the UK as a whole – and are up by almost £6.4 billion.

The publication shows that North Sea revenues in the past year have declined. This is reflective of the challenges that continue to face the global oil industry today, and the fact oil prices are lower than virtually all forecasters – including the UK Government – previously predicted.

These figures don’t take account of the impact of Brexit.

Scotland faces challenges. Brexit has made those challenges harder. Brexit will be deeply damaging to Scotland’s economy and finances. Analysis published by the Scottish Government shows that leaving the EU could reduce Scottish tax revenues by between £1.7 billion and £3.7 billion a year by 2030. For the Scottish economy as a whole, it could cost up to £11.2 billion a year in the long term.

There is now a clear choice between economic recovery with a continued place in Europe – or economic retreat with Brexit.

Find out more about what the Tories aren’t telling you about Brexit here.

While the Scottish Government is taking action to boost Scotland’s economy post-Brexit, the UK government is yet to take any meaningful action.

The Scottish Government is bringing forward an additional £100 million of capital spending to boost the economy post-Brexit. This will be in addition to planned capital spending for 2015-16 and will include spending in health and other key infrastructure sectors. Projects worth almost £6 billion are already under construction as part of the Scottish Government’s Infrastructure Investment Plan.

The UK government, by contrast, has not taken any meaningful action to alleviate uncertainty or boost confidence in our economy since the EU referendum.

We continue to invest more in our public services and economic growth.

In government the SNP is investing in Scotland’s public services. GERS shows that the Scottish Government is investing £130 more per head than the UK Government on health, and £184 more on education. In fact, education spending has been rising while it fell in the rest of the UK.

The SNP Scottish Government is also investing more in growing our economy. Spending on economic development in Scotland is higher than the UK as a whole – to the tune of £76 per head. And, when it comes to capital investment, which accounts for spending on public infrastructure like hospitals and schools, spending is £105 higher per head in Scotland than in the UK as a whole.

The foundations of Scotland’s economy are strong.

Over the last quarter, Scottish employment increased by 51,000 – the largest quarterly rise on record.

Scotland also continues to outperform the rest of the UK on female employment, youth employment and unemployment.

In terms of economic output per head – even excluding oil revenues – Scotland remains the most prosperous part of the UK outside of London and South-east England.

Since 2006, the Ernst & Young Attractiveness Survey ranked Scotland in the top two locations in the UK outside of London for attracting inward investment.

Typical pay in Scotland is, for the first time ever, higher than in England.

GERS tells us about the status quo and very little about the opportunities of independence.

Scotland is rich in human talent and natural resources. But we lack the economic levers to maximise growth in our economy, and invest according to our own priorities. Even after the Smith Commission powers are fully implemented, 71 per cent of taxes raised in Scotland will be controlled in Westminster. And, our ability to grow our population – and our tax base – is limited by the UK Government too.

With independence, the Scottish Government could design policies that are tailored to Scotland’s – not the UK Government’s – circumstances.

Dr Andrew Goudie, former chief economist to the Scottish Government, said in 2003 that GERS “tells us nothing…about the situation under independence.”

ARTICLE SOURCE: http://www.snp.org/scotland_economy_gers_brexit

First Minister: “Choice is between economic recovery or economic retreat.”

Growth in Scotland’s onshore revenues last year has more than offset the downturn in oil revenues, figures published today in Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland 2015-16 (GERS) have shown.

The figures, which do not include the potential impact of Brexit, show that Scotland’s onshore revenues grew by £1.9 billion in the last financial year. However, the lower oil price has reduced offshore tax revenues and this has had a corresponding impact on Scotland’s fiscal position.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said:

“The foundations of our economy remain strong. Scotland, in terms of economic output per head – and even excluding offshore revenues – remains the most prosperous part of the UK outside of London and South-east England.

“And today’s GERS publication shows that our onshore revenues continue to grow, with revenue increasing by £1.9 billion over the year, more than offsetting the decline in offshore revenue.

“This supports increased health spending in Scotland, while education spending has also been rising even while it fell in the rest of the UK.

“And in the latest quarter, Scottish employment increased by 51,000 – the largest quarterly rise on record.

“The lower oil price has, of course, reduced offshore revenues, with a corresponding impact on our fiscal position – this underlines the fact that Scotland’s challenge is to continue to grow our onshore economy.

“However, Scotland’s long-term economic success is now being directly threatened by the likely impact of Brexit.

“Today’s figures come a day after analysis from Scottish Government showed that taking Scotland out of the European Union and our place in the world’s biggest single market would make the task of growing and diversifying the Scottish economy even harder.

“Maintaining our relationship with the EU will help us sustain the economic growth and job creation that we have seen in recent years.

“But if we were to allow Scotland to be forced out of the EU against our democratic will, then we will see Scotland’s economy as a whole take a hit worth up to £11.2 billion pounds per year by 2030.

“It is coming down to a clear choice between economic recovery with a continued place in Europe and the single market – or economic retreat with Brexit.”

Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Constitution, Derek Mackay, said:

“It is important to note that GERS represents Scotland’s fiscal position under the current constitutional arrangements. The position if Scotland was to become independent would depend on a range of factors which are not reflected in this publication.

“Today’s figures do, however, highlight the challenges facing the oil industry. Muted global demand and a low oil price have clearly had an impact on offshore revenues – not just in Scotland – but we are doing all that we can within our powers to support the industry.

“We have a strong base to build our future progress upon, with the latest labour market figures showing the largest quarterly rise of people in employment on record.

“However, the real risk to Scotland’s economy now is being taken out of the European Union against our will – such an outcome could cost the Scottish economy and public finances many billions of pounds.

“The only way to protect the clear benefits which come from being part of the world’s biggest single market is to work to ensure we protect our relationship with the EU.”

ARTICLE SOURCE: http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/GERS-figures-published-294e.aspx

The publication of Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (GERS) 2015-16 was announced today by Scotland’s Chief Statistician.

Total Public Sector Revenue 2015-16

•Including an illustrative geographic share of North Sea, Scottish public sector revenue was estimated as £53.7 billion (7.9 per cent of UK revenue). Of this, £60 million was North Sea revenue.
•Scotland’s illustrative share of North Sea revenue fell from £1.8 billion in 2014-15 to £60 million, reflecting a decline in total UK North Sea revenue.
•Scotland’s public sector revenue is equivalent to £10,000 per person, £400 less than the UK average, regardless of the inclusion of North Sea revenue.

Total Public Sector Expenditure 2015-16

•Total expenditure for the benefit of Scotland by the Scottish Government, UK Government, and all other parts of the public sector was £68.6 billion. This is equivalent to 9.1 per cent of total UK public sector expenditure, and £12,800 per person, which is £1,200 per person greater than the UK average.

Current Budget Balance 2015-16

This is the difference between total revenue and current expenditure (i.e. excluding capital investment). The current budget balance:

•Excluding North Sea revenue, was a deficit of £12.7 billion (8.6 per cent of GDP).
•Including an illustrative geographic share of North Sea revenue, was a deficit of £12.6 billion (8.1 per cent of GDP).
•For the UK, was a deficit of £41.5 billion (2.2 per cent of GDP)

Net Fiscal Balance 2015-16

This is the difference between total revenue and total public sector expenditure including capital investment. The net fiscal balance:

•Excluding North Sea revenue, was a deficit of £14.9 billion (10.1 per cent of GDP).
•Including an illustrative geographic share of North Sea revenue, was a deficit of £14.8 billion (9.5 per cent of GDP).
•For the UK, was a deficit of £75.3 billion (4.0 per cent of GDP).

The figures released today were produced in accordance with professional standards set out in the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.

ARTICLE SOURCE: http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/Government-Expenditure-Revenue-Scotland-2015-16-294c.aspx

Acceptances from Scotland’s most deprived areas at highest ever level.

A record number of Scottish students have secured a place at university, with university entries from the most deprived areas also at the highest ever level, according to UCAS statistics published on A-level results day.

Compared to this stage last year, the number of Scottish applicants accepted to Scottish institutions increased by four per cent from 29,120 to 30,400 and acceptances from the 20 per cent most deprived areas in Scotland (SIMD 20) increased by 5 per cent from 4,060 to 4,280 individuals.

Minister for Further, Higher Education and Science, Shirley-Anne Somerville, said:

“Firstly, I want to congratulate all students who have received results recently and secured a place at one of the many great universities in our country.

“Scotland has a world class higher education system and one that will always be based on the principles of being free, fair and funded. The latest UCAS figures show a really positive picture for Scotland’s students, with a record number gaining entry to university.

“It is also extremely heartening to see record levels of individuals from more deprived areas in Scotland gaining access to university. This is really positive news and this Scottish Government will continue to do all that we can to widen access and ensure all of our young people get an equal chance to go to university.”

ARTICLE SOURCE: http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/Record-number-of-Scottish-students-gain-university-entry-2900.aspx