Cash divide over border 'difficult to defend'.

EXPERTS are meeting in Newcastle today to discuss the amount of public money given to Scotland.

Anger has focused on the Barnett Formula handing pounds 1,500 more per head to Scotland than England. Our region receives more than the English average, but pounds 716 less than Scotland.

But experts reporting to a commission on Scottish devolution say Scotland has economically outperformed everywhere except London, the South East and East - making the system "increasingly difficult to defend".

Blyth Valley MP Ronnie Campbell said: "I am not trying to stop the Scottish getting any money. I just want the same for my people."

Hexham Conservative MP Peter Atkinson said: "It urgently needs to be reviewed to make it more equitable because circumstances have changed."

Former Durham University vice-chancellor Sir Kenneth Calman, who is heading the Scottish devolution commission, said the North East was an obvious place to take evidence as a neighbour of Scotland.

"I have no views at the moment. We are simply getting evidence."

The session is at Newcastle Civic Centre, 10.30am to 1pm, with a free buffet lunch.