SCOTLAND’S exports to the UK are worth four times as much as those to the EU, SNP Government figures have confirmed, prompting a bitter row about independence.

Scottish sales to England, Wales and Northern Ireland were £49.8bn in 2015, compared to £12.3bn to the EU internal market, the latest statistics revealed yesterday.

Unionist parties said it showed how vital the UK single market was to the Scottish economy, and what a mistake it would be to prioritise the EU single market through independence.

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However SNP Economy Secretary Keith Brown said the data underlined the importance of remaining in the EU single market, as it is eight times the size of the UK.

He said: “It is clear that since the vote to leave the European Union, we must continue to be seen to be a country that is outward facing and open for business.

“Scotland should not face a choice between exporting to the EU or the UK. We can do both.”

Read more: SNP calls on PM not to lower food and safety standards in her bid to get US trade deal

Nicola Sturgeon has said a second referendum is “all but inevitable” if the UK government rejects her proposal for a bespoke Brexit deal to keep Scotland in the EU single market.

Scottish Secretary David Mundell said businesses in Scotland had sold £37.5bn more in goods and services to the UK market than to all the other 27 EU countries put together.

He said: “The figures show the UK is the vital Union for Scotland, and highlight the importance of maintaining the UK market and preventing any new barriers to doing business across the UK as we leave the EU.

“We know the Scottish Government’s constant talk of a second independence referendum is creating damaging uncertainty for the Scottish economy. I again call on the First Minister to end that uncertainty by taking her threat of another referendum off the table and working with us to get the best deal [on Brexit] for Scotland and the whole of the UK.”

The Scottish Government said sales to other parts of the UK increased £2.1bn, or 4.4 per, while those to rest of the EU grew by £520m, also 4.4 per cent, on the previous year.

Read more: SNP calls on PM not to lower food and safety standards in her bid to get US trade deal

In total, international exports grew by £1bn to £28.7bn, with US the biggest market at £4.6bn.

The figures did not include offshore oil and gas The government said the rise in EU exports was driven by petroleum and chemicals, while the rise in UK exports was driven by utilities such as electricity, gas and water.

Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale said: “These figures confirm the UK single market is four times more important to Scottish jobs and the economy than the EU single market.

“It is simply a reckless Nationalist gamble to put access to the UK single market, and all the jobs that depend on it, at risk.

“That’s why the SNP must drop plans for a second independence referendum.”

Read more: SNP calls on PM not to lower food and safety standards in her bid to get US trade deal

LibDem MP Alistair Carmichael said: “The statistics show the critical importance of keeping Scotland both in the UK and the EU. Anything less would cause real harm.

“If Britain is to be pulled out of the single market and we put up barriers to our trade with Europe it would do huge damage to jobs and prosperity in Scotland. Similarly erecting a border between Scotland and the rest of the UK would result in a catastrophic loss in trade.”

Mr Brown also announced a new Trade Board to help boost exports.