Data Sources
A wide variety of data sources were used to compile the tables, including business surveys and UK National Accounts information, Scottish Government surveys and other official sources. As a result, National Input-Output tables are usually compiled 2-3 years after the year to which they relate.
The data presented in the balanced tables represent our best estimate of the structure of supply and demand.
The main data sources used to derive estimates are:
Agriculture
Data supplied by Scottish Government Rural and Environment Analytical Services (REAS).
Forestry
Data supplied by the Forestry Commission , combined with data from the Scottish Annual Business Statistics Database, which is compiled using the ONS Annual Business Inquiry.
Fishing
Data from REAS and the Scottish Annual Business Statistics Database.
Production industries
The Scottish Annual Business Statistics Database is the main source. This includes data from the Purchases Inquiry, and the Products of the European Communities Survey (PRODCOM).
N.B. Input-Output tables do not include any North Sea oil and gas extraction activity. This activity is included in the "extra-regio" component of the UK Regional Accounts. Any oil related activity shown in these tables will be mainland "service activities incidental to extraction" only.
Construction
Scottish Annual Business Statistics Database.
Services (excluding the public sector and those mentioned separately below)
Scottish Annual Business Statistics Database.
Telecommunications
Estimates are based on UK input-output matrices.
Financial services
Rates of growth in the industry in Scotland are taken from the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, and are used in combination with UK input-output matrices.
Public services
Government expenditure records, combined with data from the Scottish Annual Business Statistics Database. .
Distributors' trading margins
Estimates of margins are based on UK product level data which is applied to output. The calculation of Distributors' trading margins is performed separately for household purchases.
Taxes less subsidies on production and on products
Government records provide a detailed breakdown of individual taxes and subsidies. Applying UK tax ratios to Scottish activity at the most detailed industry level gives Scottish taxes and subsidies. Each product tax is allocated on the basis of the pattern of expenditure on those products attracting the tax. Additional information on taxes in Scotland was obtained from the Government Expenditure & Revenue Scotland (GERS) publication.
Consumers' & tourists expenditure
Scottish National Accounts Project data are now being used for Household and Tourist expenditure totals. This is based on quarterly estimates, summed to calendar year, for household expenditures consistent with the UK consumer trends. The new methodology is consistent with other estimates used in the Government Expenditure Revenue Scotland (GERS) exercise.
UK expenditure patterns were used to distribute Scottish household expenditure. Spending patterns for different types of tourist (eg from the rest of the world or the rest of the UK, travelling on holiday or on business) come from Visit Scotland, the UK Tourist Survey, Visit Britain and the Scottish Recreation Survey.
Government final consumption
Local Government Financial returns are used to estimate Local Goverment consumption. Central Government consumption estimates are based on Scottish Government expenditure data.
Change in inventories
Structural information is derived from UK inventory matrices, and is applied to data from the Scottish Annual Business Statistics Database, REAS and the Forestry Commission.
Gross fixed capital formation
Little information on the product composition of GFCF is collected, and therefore UK proportions are applied to Scottish sectoral activity. The levels of capital formation by Scottish industries are obtained from the Scottish Annual Business Statistics Database, along with ONS Regional GFCF estimates.
Exports
Information on exports to Rest of the UK (RUK) and Rest of the World (RoW) is based on detailed analysis of data from the Global Connections Survey (GCS).
Imports
Information from the Global Connections Survey (GCS) is used to create detailed imports breakdowns.