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Swinney claim on revenues 'just doesn't add up'

FINANCE Secretary John Swinney has been accused of not being able to count after claiming Scotland contributes more to the UK Treasury than it gets in return despite figures showing it was in the red by at least £10.7 billion last year.

The Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (GERS) figures, published yesterday, showed public spending at £63.8bn, with tax revenues of £53.1bn.

Mr Swinney maintained the breakdown showed Scotland generated 9.6% of UK revenues with 8.4% of the population and that with control of oil and gas revenues they underlined "the opportunities of independence and financial responsibility".

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