The Scottish Accounts Commission, an agency of the Scottish Executive, has told the Shetland Islands Council that it must do more to live within its means and start spending only what money it raises.

Does this mean that every council in Scotland is going to be told to only spend what it raises?  Currently, Scotland has a budget deficit of £11.3bn which is plugged by a subsidy from the English taxpayer via the Barnett Formula.

I’ve just sent the following to the Accounts Commission:

Hi,

I read the story that the Shetland Islands Council has been told it must only spend what money it raises and found it most encouraging.

Do you have any idea when you are likely to tell the other councils in Scotland that they must also do the same, thereby relieving the English taxpayer of the £11.3bn burden of the Scottish budget deficit?