1. The Future of Public Services in Scotland
Mark Diffley, Ipsos MORI Scotland
September 2011
Contacts:
Mark.Diffley@ipsos.com
0131 240 3269

2. Government policy
Q. Do you agree or disagree with the following statements? In the long term the
UK government's policies will improve the state of Scotland's public services
Scotland U.K.
34% Agree
Disagree 45% 45% Agree
Disagree 58%
8%
10%
Neither/nor
or DK Neither/nor
or DK
Base: All Scottish adults 18+, 25-29 August 2011, All adults in England and Wales 18+, July 2010

3. Government policy
Q In the long term the UK government's policies will improve the state of
Scotland's public services
Q. In the long term the Scottish government's policies will improve the state of
Scotland's public services
Scottish Gov’t U.K. Gov’t
Disagree
31% 34% Agree
Disagree
59% Agree 58%
10%
Neither/nor 8%
or DK
Neither/nor
or DK
Base: All Scottish adults 18+, 25-29 August 2011

4. Spending cuts
Q. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements?
There is a need to cut spending on public services in order to pay of the very
high national debt we have
Scotland U.K.
Disagree
39%
Disagree 46% 44% Agree
54% Agree
7%
10%
Neither/nor
Neither/nor or DK
or DK
Base: All Scottish adults 18+, 25-29 August 2011, All adults in England and Wales 18+, July 2010

5. Spending cuts
Q. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? I am
personally happy to accept less from public services than I currently get in order
to pay off the very high national debt we now have
Scotland U.K.
Agree
Disagree 39%
42% Disagree
46% 47% Agree
19% 7%
Neither/nor Neither/nor
or DK or DK
Base: All Scottish adults 18+, 25-29 August 2011, All adults in England and Wales 18+, July 2010

6. Public services
Q. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements?
People should have more control over how public services are provided locally
Scotland U.K.
Disagree Disagree
10% Neither/nor 8%
Neither/nor or DK
or DK 7%
9%
81% 85%
Agree Agree
Base: All Scottish adults 18+, 25-29 August 2011, All adults in England and Wales 18+, July 2010

7. Public services
Q. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements?
People in Scotland should get more involved in helping improve public services
and local areas
Scotland U.K.
Disagree Disagree
11% Neither/nor 10%
Neither/nor or DK
or DK 4%
8%
81%
86%
Agree Agree
Base: All Scottish adults 18+, 25-29 August 2011, All adults in England and Wales 18+, July 2010

8. Public services
Q. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? I
should get more involved in helping improve public services and local areas
Scotland U.K.
Disagree Disagree
23% 22%
50% Agree
Neither/nor 10%
or DK
68%
27% Agree
Neither/nor
or DK
Base: All Scottish adults 18+, 25-29 August 2011, All adults in England and Wales 18+, July 2010

9. Which sector knows what public service users need?
Q. Some charities and private companies receive funding from government to
provide certain public services, such as healthcare and care for the elderly.
Other public services are provided by public authorities such as the NHS or
local councils. Of these three types of service provider, which one do you think
would be best at: Understanding what service users need
Scotland U.K.
Don’t know
Don’t know
6%
17%
Charities
29% Charities
37%
54% Public 30%
Public 11%
authorities authorities
Private
companies 16%
Private
Base: All Scottish adults 18+, 25-29 August 2011, All adults in England and Wales 18+, November 20-26 2009 companies

10. Which sector would provide most caring and compassionate service?
Q. Some charities and private companies receive funding from government to
provide certain public services, such as healthcare and care for the elderly.
Other public services are provided by public authorities such as the NHS or
local councils. Of these three types of service provider, which one do you think
would be best at: Providing a caring and compassionate service
Scotland U.K.
Don’t know
Don’t know
6%
17%
Charities
44%
43% Public 18% 53% Charities
authorities
Public
authorities
11%
7% Private
companies
Private companies
Base: All Scottish adults 18+, 25-29 August 2011, All adults in England and Wales 18+, November 20-26 2009

11. Which sector would provide best quality service?
Q. Some charities and private companies receive funding from government to
provide certain public services, such as healthcare and care for the elderly.
Other public services are provided by public authorities such as the NHS or
local councils. Of these three types of service provider, which one do you think
would be best at: Providing the best quality of service for the money
Scotland U.K.
Don’t know
7% Don’t know
Charities Charities
26% 20%
29%
Public 50% Public 25%
17%
authorities authorities
Private 27% Private
companies
companies
Base: All Scottish adults 18+, 25-29 August 2011, All adults in England and Wales 18+, November 20-26 2009

12. Which sector would provide most professional and reliable service?
Q. Some charities and private companies receive funding from government to
provide certain public services, such as healthcare and care for the elderly.
Other public services are provided by public authorities such as the NHS or
local councils. Of these three types of service provider, which one do you think
would be best at: Providing a professional and reliable service
Scotland U.K.
Don’t know
Charities
6% Don’t know Charities
17% 21%
19%
Private
19% companies
Public 58% 30% 29%
Public
authorities authorities Private
companies
Base: All Scottish adults 18+, 25-29 August 2011, All adults in England and Wales 18+, November 20-26 2009