Scottish social attitudes: attitudes to government and political engagement, 2016

Survey results on attitudes to government, political engagement, economy, standard of living and the NHS.


Annex B. Time series Tables

This Annex contains back series tables and the latest results for all questions in the core module.

Table 1 How much do you trust the UK Government to work in Scotland's best long-term interest? (1999-2016, column %)

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2010 2011 2012 2013 2015 2016
% % % % % % % % % % % % % % % %
Just about always 3 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 2 3 3 4 3 2 3
Most of the time 29 16 20 17 19 20 21 19 32 23 19 15 28 23 21 22
Only some of the time 52 54 55 51 58 50 53 52 44 48 51 49 45 45 44 43
Almost never 14 26 22 26 20 26 21 24 18 24 23 31 22 27 31 30
(Don't know) - - - - - 2 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 3 2 1
(Not answered) - - - - - * * - * - - - - - - *
Sample size 1482 1663 1605 1665 1508 1637 1549 1594 1508 1482 1495 1197 1229 1497 1288 1237

Table 2 How much do you trust the Scottish Government/Executive /Parliament to work in Scotland's best interests? (1999-2016, column %)

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2010 2011 2012 2013 2015 2016
% % % % % % % % % % % % % % % %
Just about always 26 9 13 9 10 9 10 8 14 14 13 20 16 16 22 17
Most of the time 55 45 52 43 52 43 46 43 57 47 47 51 46 43 50 49
Only some of the time 14 34 29 34 31 37 33 37 22 31 31 23 28 31 21 25
Almost never 2 9 5 11 4 10 7 8 4 5 6 5 9 8 5 8
(Don't know) - - - - - 2 3 3 4 3 2 1 2 2 1 1
(Not answered) - - - - - * * - * * * - - * - *
Sample size 1482 1663 1605 1665 1508 1637 1549 1594 1508 1482 1495 1197 1229 1497 1288 1237

Table 3 How much do you trust the UK Government to make fair decisions? (2006-2016, column %)

2006 2007 2009 2010 2011 2013 2015 2016
% % % % % % % %
A great deal 2 3 2 3 3 2 2 2
Quite a lot 21 30 17 21 15 17 16 15
Some 46 43 48 44 42 39 37 39
Not very much 23 17 24 23 27 28 28 29
Not at all 6 4 7 7 11 11 14 13
(Don't know) 3 3 2 2 1 2 2 2
(Not answered) - * * - - - - *
Sample size 1594 1508 1482 1495 1197 1497 1288 1237

Table 4 How much do you trust the Scottish Government to make fair decisions? (2006-2016, column %)

2006 2007 2009 2010 2011 2013 2015 2016
% % % % % % % %
A great deal 3 4 4 4 8 5 8 8
Quite a lot 29 42 32 32 38 33 41 33
Some 46 39 46 46 39 42 38 41
Not very much 15 8 13 13 11 14 9 13
Not at all 5 2 3 3 3 4 3 4
(Don't know) 3 4 3 2 1 2 1 1
(Not answered) * * * - - - - *
Sample size 1594 1508 1482 1495 1197 1497 1288 1237

Table 5 How much do you trust your local council to make fair decisions? (2006-2016, column %)

2015 2016
% %
A great deal 4 4
Quite a lot 30 28
Some 37 33
Not very much 16 18
Not at all 6 8
(Don't know) 7 9
(Not answered) - *
Sample size 1288 1237

Table 6 In general how good would you say the Scottish Executive/ Government is at listening to people's views before it takes decisions? (2004-2016, column %)

2004 2005 2006 2007 2009 2010 2011 2013 2015 2016
% % % % % % % % % %
Very good 1 3 2 2 4 3 6 4 8 7
Quite good 31 32 34 41 44 41 50 42 51 47
Not very good 41 38 39 35 33 37 26 33 25 28
Not at all good 17 16 14 9 8 11 8 12 9 12
(Don't know) 10 12 11 13 11 8 9 9 7 5
(Not answered) * * - * - - - - * *
Sample size 1637 1549 1594 1508 1482 1495 1197 1497 1288 1237

Table 7 In general how good would you say the UK Government is at listening to people's views before it takes decisions? (2004-2016, column %)

2004 2005 2006 2007 2009 2010 2011 2013 2015 2016
% % % % % % % % % %
Very good 1 1 1 * 1 1 1 1 1 1
Quite good 14 15 17 21 17 21 18 20 16 20
Not very good 50 52 49 50 51 51 48 49 49 51
Not at all good 30 25 27 21 23 20 27 24 28 24
(Don't know) 6 7 7 8 7 7 6 6 6 5
(Not answered) * * * * - - - - - *
Sample size 1637 1549 1594 1508 1482 1495 1197 1497 1288 1237

Table 8 In general how good would you say your local council is at listening to people's views before it takes decisions? (2010-2016, column %)

2010 2015 2016
% % %
Very good 3 6 7
Quite good 34 38 38
Not very good 38 28 26
Not at all good 17 14 14
(Don't know) 8 14 15
(Not answered) - * *
Sample size 1495 1288 1237

Table 9 From what you have seen and heard so far do you think that having a Scottish Parliament is giving ordinary people…(1999-2016, column %)

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2015 2016
% % % % % % % % % % % % % % % %
…more say in how Scotland is governed 64 44 38 31 39 31 37 37 47 47 42 60 46 46 61 59
…less say 2 3 4 4 4 6 5 5 3 3 4 3 6 5 3 3
…or, is it making no difference? 32 51 56 62 54 60 55 55 45 47 50 33 47 45 33 37
(Don't know) - - - - - 3 4 4 4 3 4 4 1 3 3 2
(Not answered) - - - - - * * - * * - - - - - *
Sample size 1482 1663 1605 1665 1508 1637 1549 1594 1508 1482 1495 1197 1229 1497 1288 1237

Table 10 From what you have seen and heard so far do you think that having a Scottish Parliament is giving Scotland…(1999-2016, column %)

  1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2015 2016
% % % % % % % % % % % % % % % %
…a stronger voice in the United Kingdom 70 52 52 39 49 35 41 43 61 52 49 69 59 57 70 71
…a weaker voice in the United Kingdom 7 6 6 7 7 7 6 6 4 5 6 3 6 6 3 3
…or, is it making no difference? 20 40 40 52 41 55 50 49 32 40 42 26 33 34 26 24
(Don't know) - - - - - 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 1 1
(Not answered) - - - - - * *   - * * - - - - *
Sample size 1482 1663 1605 1665 1508 1637 1549 1594 1508 1482 1495 1197 1229 1497 1288 1237

Table 11 Which of the following do you think has the most influence over the way Scotland is run? (1999-2016, column %)

1999 2000 2001 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2015 2016
% % % % % % % % % % % % % % %
The Scottish Government 41 13 15 17 19 23 24 28 33 37 38 34 30 41 42
The UK Government at Westminster 39 66 66 64 48 47 38 47 39 45 38 41 47 42 41
Local Councils in Scotland 8 10 9 7 20 15 18 8 11 7 13 10 12 6 5
The European Union 5 4 7 5 6 8 11 9 10 7 7 9 7 5 8
(Don't know) 8 8 - 6 7 7 9 7 7 5 4 6 4 6 4
(Not answered) - - - - * * * * - - - - - - *
Sample size 1482 1663 1605 1508 1637 1549 1594 1508 1482 1495 1197 1229 1497 1288 1237

Table 12 Which of the following do you think ought to have the most influence over the way Scotland is run? (1999-2016, column %)

1999 2000 2001 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2015 2016
% % % % % % % % % % % % % % %
The Scottish Government 74 72 74 66 67 67 64 71 72 74 73 63 63 76 75
The UK Government at Westminster 13 13 14 20 12 13 11 14 13 16 13 24 20 14 14
Local Councils in Scotland 8 10 8 9 17 15 19 9 11 6 11 8 13 7 8
The European Union 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 * 1 1 1 1 1 1
(Don't know) - 5 - - 3 4 4 4 3 3 2 4 3 2 2
(Not answered) - - - - * * * * - - - * * * *
Sample size 1482 1663 1605 1508 1637 1549 1594 1508 1482 1495 1197 1229 1497 1288 1237

Table 13 What should be the Scottish Government's highest priority? (2004-2016, column %)

2004 2005 2006 2007 2009 2010 2011 2013 2015 2016
% % % % % % % % % %
Help the economy grow faster 16 18 14 16 33 37 36 35 32 28
Cut crime 22 23 24 27 17 18 17 10 4 4
Improve people's heath 27 26 24 17 13 15 16 18 17 15
Improve standards of education 17 15 16 12 15 12 15 18 22 21
Improve housing 12 10 12 16 13 9 11 13 15 16
Improve the environment 4 4 6 5 3 3 2 1 2 2
Improve public transport 1 1 2 1 1 1 * 1 1 1
Reduce inequality n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 4 10
Sample size 1637 1549 1594 1508 1482 1495 1197 1497 1288 1237

Table 14 All in all, how satisfied or dissatisfied would you say you are with the way in which the National Health Service runs nowadays? (1999-2016, column %)

1999 2005 2006 2007 2011 2013 2015 2016
% % % % % % % %
Very satisfied 9 7 6 10 12 13 16 14
Quite satisfied 46 33 39 41 44 49 46 46
Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied 17 16 18 14 20 12 14 17
Quite dissatisfied 19 27 29 22 17 19 17 14
Very dissatisfied 7 16 8 11 6 6 7 8
(Don't know) 1 * 1 1 1 1 1 1
(Not answered) * - * * - - - -
Sample size 1482 1549 1594 1508 1197 1497 1288 1237

Table 15 Whether the standard of the health service in Scotland has increased or fallen. (1999-2016, column %)

1999 2001 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2009 2010 2011 2015 2016
% % % % % % % % % % % %
Increased a lot 2 2 2 3 2 4 2 4 3 4 2 2
Increased a little 21 21 18 15 15 16 17 22 16 18 9 11
Stayed the same 35 29 25 31 38 31 45 41 35 39 41 40
Fallen a little 20 26 26 23 24 23 20 17 21 19 26 23
Fallen a lot 14 15 20 24 12 18 6 8 14 12 14 14
(Don't know) 8 7 8 5 10 8 10 8 11 9 8 11
(Not answered) - - - - * - - * - - - -
Sample size 1482 1605 1508 1637 1549 1594 1508 1482 1495 1197 1288 1237

Table 16 Who is 'credited' for an increase in the standard of the health service in Scotland. (2006-2016, column %)

2006 2007 2009 2010 2011 2015 2016
% % % % % % %
Scottish Government policies 41 50 55 49 58 57 54
UK Government policies 24 34 18 30 15 13 16
Some other reason 17 9 13 16 20 16 24
Both Westminster and SG 7 1 6 2 1 4 2
(Don't know) 11 6 8 4 7 10 4
Unweighted sample size 313 279 387 286 236 148 140

Table 17 Who is 'blamed' for a fall in the standard of the health service in Scotland. (2006-2016, column %)

2006 2007 2009 2010 2011 2015 2016
% % % % % % %
Scottish Government policies 20 14 12 18 12 19 25
UK Government policies 44 45 41 49 54 48 40
Some other reason 20 25 30 21 21 21 18
Both Westminster and SG 8 3 11 8 8 8 12
(Don't know) 7 13 6 5 5 4 4
Unweighted sample size 696 422 383 524 388 510 486

Table 18 What about Scotland's economy? Has it got stronger or weaker since (month of interview) previous year? (2004-2016, column %)

2004 2005 2006 2007 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2015 2016
% % % % % % % % % % %
A lot stronger 3 2 2 2 1 * 2 1 1 1 2
A little stronger 25 21 28 28 7 11 16 13 23 25 14
Stayed the same 29 34 28 36 11 15 16 20 31 28 21
A little weaker 22 19 18 10 43 41 39 41 28 28 39
A lot weaker 5 3 2 1 29 23 18 17 8 6 15
(Don't know) 17 22 21 22 8 9 9 9 9 11 9
Sample size 1637 1549 1594 1508 1482 1495 1197 1229 1497 1288 1237

Table 19 What about the general standard of living in Scotland? Has it increased or fallen since (month of interview) previous year? (1999-2016, column %)

1999 2001 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2015 2016
% % % % % % % % % % % % % %
Increased a lot 2 3 4 4 3 4 2 3 2 2 2 5 1 1
Increased a little 27 27 30 27 25 30 27 13 11 9 10 10 18 18
Stayed the same 43 45 36 40 45 37 41 25 28 19 23 25 33 38
Fallen a little 18 15 17 18 17 17 16 38 38 39 39 38 29 27
Fallen a lot 6 4 7 6 4 5 4 16 16 29 22 20 13 9
(Don't know) 5 6 7 5 7 6 9 4 4 2 4 2 5 7
Sample size 1482 1605 1508 1637 1549 1594 1508 1482 1495 1197 1229 1497 1288 1237

Table 20 Who is 'credited' for a stronger economy in Scotland. (2006-2016, column %)

2006 2007 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2015 2016
% % % % % % % % %
Scottish Government policies 47 56 66 39 69 61 47 54 60
UK Government policies 19 21 14 21 15 18 16 16 14
Some other reason 20 15 12 32 10 14 26 21 18
Both Westminster and SG 8 2 2 2 2 4 8 7 4
(Don't know) 6 5 6 6 4 3 4 3 4
Unweighted sample size 454 441 120 177 193 164 373 335 175

Table 21 Who is 'blamed' for a weaker economy in Scotland. (2006-2016, column %)

2006 2007 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2015 2016
% % % % % % % % %
Scottish Government policies 26 17 7 14 11 14 15 14 18
UK Government policies 42 44 38 44 54 47 45 38 35
Some other reason 16 25 44 35 26 31 29 37 37
Both Westminster and SG 13 7 9 6 8 8 9 10 9
(Don't know) 3 8 2 1 1 1 3 1 2
Unweighted sample size 330 187 1037 941 683 700 533 447 679

Table 22 Who is 'credited' for an increase in the standard of living. (2006-2016, column %)

2006 2007 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2015 2016
% % % % % % % % %
Scottish Government policies 30 32 22 37 44 46 23 37 41
UK Government policies 28 36 24 33 31 27 42 28 28
Some other reason 26 23 30 22 12 17 18 26 16
Both Westminster and SG 6 3 9 4 10 5 5 4 9
(Don't know) 10 7 12 4 3 5 12 4 5
Unweighted sample size 548 432 400 211 121 137 240 261 212

Table 23 Who is 'blamed' for a fall in the standard of living. (2006-2016, column %)

2006 2007 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2015 2016
% % % % % % % % %
Scottish Government policies 18 10 6 8 6 7 6 7 15
UK Government policies 51 56 39 49 58 53 55 62 50
Some other reason 18 26 44 36 27 30 29 17 19
Both Westminster and SG 10 4 8 4 7 7 8 10 13
(Don't know) 3 4 3 3 2 2 2 3 3
Unweighted sample size 349 311 783 798 803 780 875 532 468

Table 24 How much did you talk about the following political events with friends, family colleagues? (2016, column %)

Independence Referendum 2016 Scottish Parliament election EU Referendum
% % %
A great deal 38 11 31
Quite a lot 31 22 34
Some 14 26 17
Not very much 10 27 11
Not at all 7 14 7
(Not answered) * - -
Sample size 1237 1237 1237

Table 25 As a result of the Independence Referendum, how much do you talk about politics? (2016, column %)

2016
%
A lot more 28
A little more 25
It has made no difference 40
A little less 3
A lot less 3
(Don't know) *
Sample size 1237

Table 26 How important do you think voting in the following elections is? (2016, column %)

Scottish Parliament elections UK general elections Local council elections
% % %
Very important 68 58 57
Fairly important 23 25 30
Not very important 6 11 10
Not important at all 3 5 3
(Don't know) * * *
(Not answered) * * *
Sample size 1212 1212 1212

Table 27 In the last few years, have you ever done any of the things on this card as a way of registering what you personally thought about an issue? (2016, column %)

2016
%
None 34
Signed a petition 45
Contacted my local council 26
Given money to a campaign or organisation 22
Contacted MP/ MSP 19
Attended a public meeting 18
Spoken to an influential person 14
Responded to a consultation document 11
Attended consultation event 9
Gone on a protest or demonstration 9
Contacted a government department directly 7
Raised issue in an organisation I already belong to 7
Joined a political party 7
Actively took part in a campaign 6
Contacted radio, TV or a newspaper 6
Joined an existing organisation 4
Formed a group 4
Sample size 1237

REVISIONS TABLE

  Date Changes
First Published 1.0 24/03/2017 Update 1.0

Revisions Detail:

Publication 1.0

First Published 24/03/2017

Contact

Email: Sarah Martin

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