In the context of the independence debate, from the very earliest days, there's been a clamour from some for "the facts". Actually, usually "just the facts". As if there was a small number of bits of crucial information whose existence was known to the politicians on both sides but which they were choosing to keep secret.
Well, actually, there is.
Except they're not secret. The Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland ("GERS") figures and reports are published annually. The publishers state:
"The aim of GERS is to enhance public understanding of fiscal issues in Scotland. The primary objective is to estimate a set of public sector accounts for Scotland through detailed analysis of official UK and Scottish Government finance statistics. GERS estimates the contribution of revenue raised in Scotland toward the goods and services provided for the benefit of the people of Scotland."
So at last: the Holy Grail. The facts. But hang on. Who says? Who is the publisher of the GERS figures? Why, the Scottish Government. That fat liar Salmond! What idiot believes a word he says? If I don't like what they say, if they tell me an inconvenient truth, then I'll just say again. So you say. How do I know they're accurate? You can't prove it. Why on earth should I accept that they are?
The answer is a very simple one: because the UK Government does. The UK Statistics Authority is an independent body operating at arm's length from government as a non-ministerial department, directly accountable to the Westminster Parliament. It was established on 1 April 2008 by the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007. The Authority's statutory objective is to promote and safeguard the production and publication of official statistics that serve the public good. It is also required to promote and safeguard the quality and comprehensiveness of official statistics, and ensure good practice in relation to official statistics. Its two main functions are:
1. oversight of the Office for National Statistics (ONS)
2. independent scrutiny (monitoring and assessment) of all official statistics produced in the UK.
GERS was reassessed as part of the UK Statistics Authority's 2013-14 work programme. The assessment report (number 274) was published in February 2014. A couple of weeks ago, on 25 April 2014, the Authority wrote to the Scottish Government saying:
"We thank the Scottish Government for the speed and openness of its response to the Requirements set out in the Assessment report, which was completed within an unusually short timeframe....On behalf of the Board of the Statistics Authority, the Assessment Committee has reviewed these on the advice of the Assessment team and I am pleased to confirm the designation of the outputs as National Statistics."The report concluded:
"The Statistics Authority judges that the statistics covered by this report are readily accessible, produced according to sound methods and managed impartially and objectively in the public interest..."
I have a primary-school aged daughter. She's clever and finding her intellectual feet. She asked me: "But Dad, how do we know they landed on the moon? Aren't there some people who think they didn't?" and in truth I had to say we didn't know. There were, I accepted, some swivel-eyed wing-nuts out there who doubted it. If she ever asks "But Dad, how do we know the GERS figures are true? Aren't there some people out there who think they aren't?" I'll be able to say "No. Even the swivel-eyed wing-nuts don't doubt that the GERS figures are true."
Ladies and gentlement I give you: the facts.*
*using the GERS figures correct at the time of filming in November 2013, since updated . I'll post a film using the 2012/13 ones if I come across it.
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