Scotland warned of record public spending black hole

Your daily news update from The Scotsman [View email online]( [News]( [Sport]( [Arts and Culture]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [The Scotsman] Aug 27, 2020 Good morning, [Scotland’s public spending deficit could hit a record high of 28 per cent next year](, as Scottish Government figures showed that last year’s deficit had risen to £15.1 billion even before the Covid pandemic hit the economy. While Nicola Sturgeon said the Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (GERS) figures were not a reflection on the potential financial status of an independent Scotland, the data – which is produced by the Scottish Government – revealed that the gap between taxes raised and public spending had grown from [7.4 per cent in 2018 to 8.6 per cent last year.]( The current deficit for the UK as a whole is 2.5 per cent. Full story [HERE]( A message from the editor: While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you. With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription. Subscribe to [scotsman.com]( and enjoy unlimited access to Scottish news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit [( now to sign up. Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website. Your feedback is really important, please email me with any comments and suggestions at joy.yates@jpimedia.co.uk Joy Yates Editorial Director JPIMedia Scotland [Nicola Sturgeon ‘irked’ by grilling over Scottish care homes]( Nicola Sturgeon has agreed to make public “all relevant information” about the discharge of elderly patients from hospitals to care homes, after Ruth Davidson accused her of being “irked” by having to answer questions about just when she knew Covid-infected people were being transferred without being tested. [{$escapedtitle}]( [Article Image]( [Terrorist who killed dozens of people during attacks on two mosques sentenced to life in prison]( Brenton Harrison Tarrant will have no possibility of parole. [Article Image]( [Homes in Scottish cities selling fastest in UK]( Homes in Glasgow and Edinburgh are selling faster than in any other UK city, a report has found. [Article Image]( [Police hunt for man after a 13-year-old boy is assaulted near primary school in Glasgow]( Police are appealing for information to help trace the man seen hitting the boy. [Article Image]( [Orkney Harbours outlines £230m masterplan to generate jobs and new business]( Orkney Harbours has officially launched its “vision for a sustainable future” with a £230 million masterplan. [Article Image]( [Two out of three Scottish patients wait longer than six-week target for diagnostic tests during lockdown]( There has been a dramatic increase in the length of time patients in Scotland have had to wait for diagnostic tests during the coronavirus crisis, with two out of three waiting more than the target time of six weeks during the height of lockdown. [Article Image]( [Scottish toddler's hunt for pebbles as she learns to walk raises nearly £30,000 for NHS]( A toddler has raised nearly £30,000 for the NHS by collecting pebbles as she learnt to walk. [Article Image]( [New BBC TV series to go behind the scenes at Edinburgh Zoo in September]( A new television series is promising to take viewers behind the scenes at Edinburgh Zoo and Highland Wildlife Park. [View more news]( You have received this email as you are opted in to newsletters from The Scotsman, published by JPIMedia Publishing Ltd. To manage your individual newsletter preferences with us, please [click here]( and log in to your account. Alternatively you can [update]( your email preferences to choose the types of emails you receive from JPIMedia Publishing Ltd, or [unsubscribe]( from all future emails. JPIMedia Publishing Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales with registered number 11499982, having its registered address at 1, King Street, London, England, EC2V 8AU, United Kingdom. We will process your personal data in accordance with our [privacy policy](.