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Scotland's deficit remains higher than the UK despite bumper year for oil and gas, data shows

SCOTTISH deficit remains higher than the UK despite a bumper year for oil and gas narrowing the budget gap, according to latest data.

The annual Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (Gers), show the explosion in oil and gas prices helped Scotland to begin to close the gap, with revenues rocketing from just £2.4 billion in 2021/22 to £9.4bn last year.

The Scottish deficit now stands at 9 per cent down from 12.3 per cent last year — still well shy of the UK’s 5.2 per cent figure — but experts have warned that the improvement may be temporary.

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