Public spending in Scotland above UK average by nearly £2,000, figures show

Public spending per head of population in Scotland is almost £2,000 higher than the UK average, figures show.

Official statistics analysing UK public expenditure by country and region show Scotland’s average spend per head in 2021/22 was £13,881.

It is the second highest in the UK, with Northern Ireland seeing the highest level of spending per head at £14,062, compared to £13,401 and £11,549 in England and Wales respectively.

Scotland’s figure is £1,984 higher than the UK average spend of £11,897, according to the data.

Of the UK’s £797 billion of identifiable expenditure in 2021/22, Scotland accounts for £76 billion, compared to £652 billion in England, £42 billion in Wales and £27 billion in Northern Ireland.

The figure fell from £895.2 billion in 2020/21 because of the lower expenditure in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Scotland Office minister John Lamont said the figures show Scotland “benefits massively” from being in the union.

On a per head basis, total UK expenditure fell by just over £1,500 since the previous year, compared to an increase of more than £3,400 in 2019/20.

However the analysis found the share of identifiable spend by country remained broadly unchanged, although England showed a slight increase in recent years because of pandemic expenditure.

Mr Lamont, the Tory MP for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk, said: “Scotland benefits massively from being part of a strong United Kingdom, as today’s figures show.

“In Scotland, £13,881 was spent per head of population on public services – that’s £1,984 above the average of for the UK as a whole.

“As was expected, the overall UK-wide public spend fell from the previous year when the UK Government invested heavily in much-needed support through the pandemic, including the vaccination programme and help for families and businesses through furlough, self-employed grants and business loans.

“We still face considerable global challenges but the broad shoulders of the UK Treasury will continue to support Scotland and the rest of the country.

“We remain resolutely focused on creating growth while protecting our vital public services and supporting the most vulnerable.”