Public spending per person in Scotland is higher than the UK average, latest figures from the Treasury show.

In the last financial year, £10,536 of public money was spent per head of population in Scotland, £1460 higher than the UK average of £9076.

The only nation in the UK to receive more public money per head was Northern Ireland, which racked up a spending total £10,983, £1907 higher than the average figure for the whole country.

The figures have been lauded by the secretary of state for Scotland David Mundell as a sign of the benefits of Scotland remaining part of the UK.

Mundell said: "Public spending in Scotland is higher than the rest of the UK - now by almost £1,500 per person per year - despite a rising budget deficit on the Scottish Government's watch.

"This illustrates the value to Scotland of being part of a strong, broad-shouldered United Kingdom."

Various levels of government spent £591bn across the UK in the last financial year.

Every English region received less spending per head than Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The south east of England, excluding London, came bottom of the spending table, it had just £7977 of public money per person in the last year.

The Scottish Government has been contacted for comment by STV News.