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Report indicates Scotland’s future public finances are substantially better as part of the UK. Here are the factors that underpin the analysis. 

Analysis by the UK government has found that Scotland’s future public finances would be substantially better were Scotland to remain part of the UK, making each Scottish person around £1,400 better off each year.

Visit the Scottish independence referendum page for more information

Here are the five building-blocks that contribute to the analysis behind the £1400 UK Dividend:

1. Scotland would start with a budget deficit

Based on Scotland’s current tax receipts and spending on public services, there would be a shortfall. This would result in more borrowing and a bigger deficit.

2. Gas and oil production is in decline

The independent Office for Budget Responsibility estimate that oil and gas revenues will fall by around 95%, as a share of our economy, over the next 20 years.

3. Scottish population is ageing quicker than the rest of UK

The number of Scottish pensioners will rise from 1 million to 1.3 million over the next 20 years. A shrinking number of working age people would have to pay for a growing number of old age pensioners.

4. At least £1.5 billion needed to become independent

The cost of setting up new public institutions such as a tax collection office, passport office and transport organisations is an estimated £1.5 billion, based on 1.0% GDP.

5. Scottish Government policy promises will cost £1.6 billion

This is the cost of the policies the current Scottish Government has set out in the White Paper Scotland’s Future and would look to pursue in an independent Scotland.

Read the latest Scotland Analysis paper on fiscal policy and sustainability