Government Borrowing (Scotland)

HC Deb 21 March 1997 vol 292 cc968-9W

Mr. Welsh

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the Scottish share of the United Kingdom general government borrowing requirement for each year since 1979 adopting the same methodology as that set out in the Government expenditure and revenue in Scotland 1994–95. [15669]

Mr. Waldegrave

[holding answer 13 February 1997]: The table shows the figures requested. As Scotland accounts for roughly 9 per cent. of the UK population, this implies that the Scottish fiscal deficit per capita has normally exceeded that of the UK as a whole.

Estimates of the Scottish share of the UK GGBR, excluding North Sea taxes and privatisation proceeds
	Ratio of Scottish GGBR to UK GGBR(per cent.)
1979–80	15
1980–81	17
1981–82	12
1982–83	17
1983–84	15
1984–95	13
1985–86	14
1986–87	21
1987–88	50
1988–89	—
1989–90	—
1990–91	57
1991–92	22
1992–93	17
1993–94	17
1994–95	17
Estimates of the Scottish ratio prior to 1990–91 are very approximate. The ratios of Scottish GGBR to UK GGBR are calculated using rounded data (to the nearest billion pounds).The ratios in 1888–89 and 1989–90 cannot be calculated, as the UK GGBR was zero or negative.