§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what input she has into the findings and presentation of Government Expenditure and Revenue in Scotland prior to its publication; [59379]
(2) how much it cost the Government to produce the Government Expenditure and Revenue in Scotland report in each year since its inception; [59378]
(3) what Ministers have an opportunity to view and comment on Government Expenditure and Revenue in Scotland prior to its publication; [59380]
(4) if work has begun on Government Expenditure and Revenue in Scotland for 2000–01. [59381]
§ Mrs. LiddellThe Government Expenditure and Revenue in Scotland (GERS) reports are produced by the Scottish Executive. The report draws on information produced by HM Treasury, Inland Revenue and Customs312W and Excise and the Office of National Statistics. Since 1999 publication of the reports has been announced in a joint Scottish Executive/Scotland Office news release. Advance copies of the final text of the GERS report are available to Ministers from the Scotland Office, Treasury and Scottish Executive. The timetable for the Scottish Executive's work on the 2000–01 report is a matter for the Scottish Executive as are the production costs, but I understand that the total cost of printing, publishing and distributing the GERS report for 1999–2000 was £6,200. Details of costs for the earlier years are not readily available.