Move to Scotland and be £420 better off

Are things really better in England than the rest of the UK? Some statistics, at least, indicate that Scotland may be the place to be.

“The centre of gravity in Scottish politics is shifting towards independence,” Scottish first minister Alex Salmond wrote in a letter to The Herald last summer. “A generation ago it was for the Assembly, then for a Parliament, then for Calman (a report recommending more independent control of taxes, amongst other things), now for fiscal responsibility, which is currently galvanising a range of opinion across Scottish society.”

Holyrood and Westminster are debating seriously about Scotland taking majority control of its income taxes, but Scotland already has many of its own laws and devolved powers to make things better for its residents. Many statistics seem to show, on the surface at least, that everything is better in Scotland.

Council tax

The average council tax per dwelling in Scotland is £984, whereas the average per dwelling in England is £1,196. Bear in mind some areas of the UK, including some regions of England, are cheaper than the average Scottish council tax, and it depends on your council and property size. That is the problem with averages.

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However, with Scottish earnings on average holding up very well compared to most parts of the UK, it makes that 22% difference in council tax all the more dramatic. A saving of £212 for Scots people.

Income tax and benefits

More National Statistics data shows that the same percentage of households in Scotland as in England receive at least one benefit: that's 70%. It's a little higher in Wales and Northern Ireland, however.

This is because Scotland does not currently have much control over income tax or benefits, although that appears likely to change.

NHS prescriptions and other healthcare

According to the Disability Alliance, NHS prescriptions went up to £7.40 on 1 April 2011 in England. On the same day, in Scotland the £3 charge was removed, making prescriptions free, just as in Wales and Northern Ireland. With the average NHS user getting 16 prescriptions per year, that's a saving of £118.

All Scottish residents get free sight tests, a level of free care not seen in the rest of the UK. Eye test costs vary, but are usually around the £20 mark. That averages £10 a year, as we usually get tested every two years.

Scottish residents also get a free dental check-up, which is a £17 saving. That could be £34 if you go twice yearly.

Hospital car parks are free in Scotland. Per resident, I estimate savings of just £1.34, but the savings are much higher for real hospital users, as most residents will not use the hospital in any year.

This is not to mention that the NHS funds more cancer treatments in Scotland.

Water rates

Tap water in Scotland comes from Scottish Water. Although some press reports have recently complained that Scotland is again freezing water rates, this is largely down to the increasing efficiency of this water provider. That efficiency leads to an average cost of £324 in Scotland versus an average cost of £360 in England and Wales, a saving of £36 per year.

Education

Children aged 5-7 in Scotland now get not just smaller classes, but also healthy free meals. The rest of the UK, with less stringent rules on food quality, must pay about £325 per year per pupil. That works out to about a £10 saving per year per member of population.

Most universities in the UK, even the worst performers, have declared they will charge close to the new £9,000 limit on fees. That makes a staggering difference for students in Scotland, who pay nothing. That said, school leavers from other parts of the UK can and do apply to Scottish universities.

All the areas I investigated look either better or no worse for Scotland. Excluding university fees, we are talking about residents of Scotland being £420 better off. Those in the rest of the UK should consider a move to the north of Great Britain.

Statistics do not prove everything

Although these statistics point to better living in Scotland, you have to look at the whole picture. Life expectancies are still much shorter, and unemployment is above the UK average. Poverty, while it has halved since devolution, is still high, and Scottish universities may be free, but some may have to close or reduce capacity due to under-funding. It is possible that Scotland needs the above breaks more than many other parts of the UK.

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