Scottish Tory, Rachael Hamilton, asked this question of the minister:
That represents an 18.6% fall on the 2016/17 figures. Hamilton’s question has clearly been very useful, and I feel sure she is gutted not to have revealed an increase which she could herself have fed to the media. Never mind.
Note: BBC Reporting Scotland editorial guidelines used in rounding-up of percentages.
Talking-up Scotland 
I’ll risk going straight into O/T from this article,
I was having a bit of fun over on Craig’s blog – spot the doppelganger – the pattern icon, as John has reliably informed me, should be the same for the same email address you use, and there appears to be a few people commenting on the blog with same name, different icon. Anyway, I noticed that Grouse Beater commented on the latest article
https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2019/01/burns-night-disgrace/#comment-822654
but did not have his usual classic car icon. There can be many explanations for this, of course, but I have no means to contact Grousey directly (don’t ask, WordPress wont let me register, etc), so wondered if someone else would ask him if it is really him? Just curious mind.
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Which John reliably informed you that? I know nothing about that techy stuff.
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oh,,,, I thought it was you,,, but you make a good point about the techy stuff,,,
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‘Brexit and the future of tax havens’ – interesting article that gives an idea of the many fingered web they (westminster) weave. Sorry, never was good at the metaphor thing. Anyway, this gives a few clues to changing attitudes to tax havens and how far down the line the uk is:
https://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2019/01/25/brexit-and-singapore-on-thames/
Really really need to get away from Westminster and the union, squeeze ourselves into the safest back corner away from it, as though it is a diseased ravening beast, lest it infect us. (yeah yeah, it already has, I was just being poetic)
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John, I know you like poetry, so here’s a poem from the Irish Border’s Twitter account:
Wee, sleekit, cow’rin, tim’rous Brexit
O what a panic’s in thy exit
Tha well may start awa sae hasty
Wi bickering brattle!
I will continue tae chase an thwart thee
Wi withering tweetle!
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In a different class from that wee libdem moose!
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