Scottish Secretary reacts to Country and Regional Analysis stats
As the latest Country and Regional Analysis statistics are published, Scottish Secretary Alister Jack says Scotland has benefited from the strength of the UK.
Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said:
These figures show how, throughout the pandemic, people in Scotland have benefited from being part of a strong United Kingdom.
Across the country, public spending has increased almost tenfold in the past year, as the UK Government supported people through difficult times.
In Scotland, spending on vital public services was higher still, with an extra £1,428 more per head than the UK average.
This investment has funded the NHS, our life-saving vaccination programme, and furlough and business-support schemes.
Our focus is now firmly on our recovery from the pandemic, building back better and stronger.
Background:
- In 2020-21, UK spend for the benefit of a particular country or region was around £900 billion (up from £663.3bn the year before).
- The average spend per head in the UK was £13,414, but in Scotland it was £14,842. That’s £1,428 above the average for the UK as a whole.
- At their peak, the UK Government’s furlough and self-employed schemes were supporting nearly a million Scottish jobs, a third of the workforce.
- More than 100,000 Scottish businesses have benefited from £4 billion of UK Government loans.
- The UK Government is investing billions to help people back to work through the Kickstart scheme to get young people into jobs. Extra help from work coaches in Jobcentres is helping unemployed people of all ages back into work by focusing on skills.
- More than £190m is going straight to communities in Scotland through our new Community Ownership, Community Renewal and Levelling Up Funds.
- The UK Government is providing the bulk of Covid testing in Scotland.