When you look at the economic output data for 2010/11 (the last year for which full data is available), Scotland is almost bang on the average, with 8.4% of the population producing 8.3% of the nation’s output. London and the South East have 26.2% of the population producing 35.8% of the output, everywhere else is below average, with the worst offender/biggest scrounger being Wales, closely followed by, ahem, the North East of England and Northern Ireland. A UK minus Scotland would have exactly the same financial problems it currently has. A UK that includes Scotland but has no Wales, N. Ireland or North of England would be the major economic powerhouse of Europe.
scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2012/03/9525
>In 2010-11, Scotland’s estimated net fiscal balance was a deficit of £10.7 billion (7.4 per cent of GDP) when a geographical share of North Sea revenue is included.
>In 2010-11, the equivalent UK position including 100 per cent of North Sea revenue, referred to in the UK Public Sector Accounts as ‘net borrowing’, was a deficit of £136.1 billion (or 9.2 per cent of GDP).
Scotland accounts for ~8.4% of the UK population.
8.4% of £136.1 billion =£11,415,113,713
Scotland's per capita share of the UK deficit.
£10,700,000,000 = Scotland's actual deficit.
£11,415,113,713- £10,700,000,000
=£715,113,713
That was a 'subsidy' of £715,113,713 that went south every financial year.