National Statistics publication: Government Expenditure & Revenues Scotland (GERS): FOI release
- Published
- 5 December 2018
- Directorate
- Chief Economist Directorate
- Topic
- Economy, Public sector
Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.
Date received: 8 November 2018
Date responded: 4 December 2018
You asked:
- Is the Scottish Government obliged to produce GERS each year?
- If Yes, by whom?
- If No, Why (other than showing Scotland's finances in a bad light)?
- How much or what % is compiled independently of UK central government?
- Do the same statisticians who produce GERS also provide independent statistics to the Scottish Fiscal Commission?
The decision to publish Government Expenditure & Revenues Scotland (GERS) lies with the Scottish Government’s Chief Statistician. GERS is a National Statistics publication, which means that it is produced in line with the Code of Practice for Statistics,[1] following consultation with users and the public to ensure that it meets their needs.
[1] https://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/code-of-practice/the-code/
As a National Statistics publication GERS is compiled entirely independently of UK central government departments and of Scottish Ministers. Decisions on the compilation of GERS are made in consultation with users in order to meet user needs, and are ultimately decided upon by the Scottish Government’s Chief Statistician. In their most recent review of GERS, the UK Statistics Authority concluded that the publication is “produced according to sound methods and managed impartially and objectively in the public interest”.[1]
GERS is produced by the National Accounts unit in the Office of the Chief Economic Adviser in the Scottish Government. The National Accounts unit produces a number of National Statistics which are used by the Scottish Fiscal Commission. As set out in the Scottish Government’s Scottish Economic Statistics Plan 2018-19,[2] the Scottish Government is prioritising the needs of the Commission to ensure that the Commission’s data requirements, contained in its Statement of Data Needs,[3] are met where practically possible.
The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses
Contact
Please quote the FOI reference
Central Enquiry Unit
Email: ceu@gov.scot
Phone: 0300 244 4000
The Scottish Government
St Andrew's House
Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG
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