Ipsos MORI Scottish Public Opinion Monitor August 2010 Contacts: - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Ipsos MORI Scottish Public Opinion Monitor August 2010 Contacts: Mark.Diffley@ipsos.com 0131 240 3269

Economic Optimism Index Q. Do you think that the general economic condition will improve, stay the same or get worse over the next 12 months? UK economy Scottish economy Don’t know (2%) Don’t know 2% 21% Get worse 27% Improve Improve 46% 55% 22% Get worse 24% Stay the Stay the same same EOI = -34% EOI = -19% April EOI = +11% April EOI = +21% Base: All asked about UK economy (508); all asked about Scottish economy (505). Source: Ipsos MORI Data collected among Scottish adults 18+, 16-19 August 2010

Economic Optimism Index – Trends Q. Do you think that the general economic condition will improve, stay the same or get worse over the next 12 months? (% better minus % worse) UK economy Scotland's economy % EOI 45 35 25 15 5 -5 Aug-09 Nov-09 Feb-10 Apr-10 Aug-10 -15 -19% -25 -35 -34% Base: All asked about UK economy (508); all asked about Scotland’s economy (505). Data collected among 1,013 Scottish adults 18+, 16-19 August 2010

View s on public services and public spending 1 Q. Please tell me how strongly you agree or disagree with each of these arguments about services and public spending? Agree Disagree There is a real need to cut spending on public services in 47% 45% order to pay off the nation national debt we currently have Making public services more efficient can save enough 56% 37% money to pay off the national debt we currently have, without damaging public services Base: 1,013 Scottish adults 18+, 16-19 August2010 Source: Ipsos MORI

View s on public services and public spending 2 Q. Which of these comes closest to your opinion about how the government goes about reducing debts? The only way for the government to reduce the Don’t know deficit is to cut spending on all services, even if that includes 13% 1% services that are mainly used by people who most need help Neither 4% The government’s priority should be to protect services for people who most need help, even if that means that other people are hit 82% harder by tax rises and cuts to services Base: All adults 18+ (1,013), 16 th August – 19 th August 2010

View s on public services and public spending 3 Q. And which of these comes closest to your opinion about how the government goes about reducing debts? It is important to cut spending quickly even if Don’t know it means immediate job losses, because it will 1% be better for the 14% economy in the long run Neither 2% It is better to cut spending more slowly, to reduce the impact on public services and the economy 83% Base: All adults 18+ (1,013), 16 th August – 19 th August 2010