Why all this is affordable
Economic data on Shetland is not generally available separate from the rest of Scotland, but the SIC’s Shetland Input-Output Study/Regional Accounts 2010-2011, is a 7-yearly in-depth study of the Shetland economy. The most recent study reported a balance of trade surplus of £130 million (2010-11) and some crude but very conservative calculations indicate an Autonomous Shetland would enjoy well over £150 million pa more revenue than the SIC has now.
These figures are based on personal and business taxes, VAT, Rates, etc raised on Shetland.
The deeper the Scottish government cuts funding, the greater would be the benefit of autonomy.
With the significant marine resources on our doorstep we would benefit from taxation of the oil and gas industry and its employees, as well as increased tax from an expanded fishing industry and the sale of fishing licences to vessels from other jurisdictions.
The economic data that is available indicates that Shetland is more than capable of financing it's own government.
http://www.shetland.gov.uk/coins/submissiondocuments.asp?submissionid=14530
http://www.shetland.gov.uk/coins/viewDoc.asp?c=e%97%9Dc%95i%7E%87
http://www.shetland.gov.uk/coins/viewDoc.asp?c=e%97%9Dc%94n%80%87
http://www.shetland.gov.uk/coins/viewDoc.asp?c=e%97%9Dc%94n%82%8B
UK Grant to Scotland Increases, Shetland Grant cut by the SG/SNP by many, many millions.
A recently FOI request to the Scottish Office for the value of the block grant given to the Scottish government. There were already figures for the years up to 2011-12 from a previous FOI request, but the last few years were not available. The graph shows the cash value of the UK - Scotland block grant, alongside the cash value of the block grant paid to the SIC. Neither set of figures have been adjusted for inflation etc, but are just showing the raw unadulterated figures. The graph speaks for itself.
This Scottish government has chosen to allocate proportionately less of the block grant to Shetland than previous governments and the trend is only going one way.
At the time of writing , two year funding cut from the SG/SNP to Shetland, £8.5 million. That is the largest cut in any Scottish local authority!
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