On Friday the Scottish National Party published startling new research evidence thatScotland has paid a relative surplus to the UK Treasury of a massive £91 billion since theConservatives came to power in 1979, which amounts to £18,000 for every single person inScotland!

This latest research is based on an objective analysis that uses both the SNP and also theScottish Office methodology to ensure a fair assessment. What it illustrates very clearly isthat over the first 16 years of Conservative Government, Scotland has paid a huge surplus tothe London Treasury. This destroys the myth that Scotland is subsidised once and for all. Itis game, set and match for Scotland and the economic case for Independence!

The research looks over the entire period from 1979 to 1994 [the latest date the ScottishOffice published figures] and even when Scottish Office methodology is used, a relativesurplus - or flow of funds - from Scotland to London of £81.2 billion is proved whichaccounts for £16,000 for every person in Scotland.

The SNP however dispute this methodology as it understates Scottish income tax andoverstates 'unidentified expenditure' in Scotland - such as defence and foreign officespending which is based mainly in London and the South of England - which is why the SNP'smore rigorous approach puts the surplus at £91 billion.

I have therefore challenged the Unionist parties who are opponents of Independence to answerthis analysis, which uses the Scottish Office's own methodology. It is time to hit back atthe rumours of Scotland being a subsidy junkie and show Scots the reality - that Scotland ispaying a London Levy so the south east can keep its snout at the trough. On Monday, therevenue figures for 1994/95 will be published by the Scottish Office. The Tories must answerto this record and say why they have deliberately attempted to mislead the people they aresupposed to serve by peddling the myth that Scotland is subsidised.

If Scotland was not a positive economic asset for London, then the Tories would haveprivatised us years ago. But they would much rather exploit Scotland with their London Levyand hold on to our oil, gas, whisky, water, fish, and land. The lesson we must learn is thatif Scotland is such a valuable possession for Westminster, then our resources and potentialare worth developing for ourselves.

We only have to look over the water at Ireland - a country very much like ourselves - to seea powerful example of how other small independent nations are prospering. On current growthlevels, Ireland will become more prosperous than the UK and Scotland by the year 2000. Theyhave already overtaken the Welsh. Ireland are doing so much with so little yet Scotlandstifled in the Union is doing so little with so much. So imagine what Scotland could do withall her natural resources and the strong economy that Independence can deliver.

Scotland has more than paid her way over the last 17 years and continues to do so in thecurrent financial year. As the entire case against the economics of Independence has beencentred on the subsidy myth, this research confirms that the SNP are winning the economiccase for Independence hands down.

John Swinney
Treasury Spokesperson

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If you would like to know more about the SNP and HELP SCOTLAND contact snp.hq@snp.org.uk or visit the official the Scottish National Party web site.

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