Sweaty Subsidies
Taxpayers' £8,000 Barnett Formula bill for services in Scotland - Telegraph
Government spending on public services in England was £7,535 per person in 2007-08. In Scotland it was £1,644 higher. In Wales the gap was £1,042 and in Northern Ireland spending was £2,254 higher.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have had a cumulative extra £200 billion in public spending since 1985/86, compared to what they would have received if they had been funded at English levels, a new report says today. £200 billion is the equivalent to £8,000 for every household in Britain.
The differences are caused by the controversial formula, which allocates public money around the UK and leads to claims that England is "subsidising" the three smaller nations.
Claims that England is "subsidising"? Why would anyone think that eh?
A spokesman for the First Minister said it was clear from the Scottish Government's official figures that Scotland was not subsidised by England.
I can't see what he does call it instead though.....