LEADING economic researcher the Fraser of Allander Institute (FAI) has hit out at analysis of this year's GERS report.

The organisation released a blog post clarifying what it called "misinformation" around the figures, particularly regarding claims "about Scotland’s apparent share of the UK deficit".

Yesterday, Unionists leapt at the suggestion that with 8.2% of the UK population, Scotland had created between 54% and 60% of the total UK deficit last year.

READ MORE: What the deficit means for Scottish independence and Europe

But the FAI stepped in to clear that up. The post read: "Comparing the £bn figure for Scotland to the equivalent UK figure is simply not a valid comparison. Statements such as 'the GERS figures imply that Scotland is responsible for 60% of the UK’s deficit' are just statistically meaningless.

"For a more accurate statement about the relative importance of Scotland to the overall UK fiscal position, we could say, on the basis of this ONS 2017-18 data: Scotland makes up 13% of the total deficit contributed by the nine regions of the UK who raise less in taxes than they spend on public services."

READ MORE: This is why we should rename GERS the ‘CRAp figures’

The indepedent experts also stepped in bust a myth over the independence debate's influence on Scotland's economy.

"Another issue that gained traction was the time series of the ratio of the Scottish deficit compared to the UK over time, and in particular since 2011," the blog read. "There were even claims that this was somehow linked to the constitutional debate.

"This is not the cause of changes in Scotland’s relative fiscal position. Rather, after 2011 there was a sharp fall in oil revenues – while the oil price itself peaked in 2014, tax revenue was lower in the sector e.g. undertaking investment which incurs tax relief, meant that tax receipts were lower after 2011."

READ MORE: GERS report – everything you need to know about today's figures

The institute finished the blog post with a warning over incorrect use of the GERS figures.

"We can’t think of any other government statistical publication – and a National Statistics publication at that – that is subject to such criticism and attack.

"The Code of Practice for Statistics is clear that organisations producing official statistics should be defending their integrity, actively preventing their misuse and promoting correct interpretation.

"Much more could be done by government to defend these statistics and proactively clear-up misunderstandings."