The Scottish Government

Statistics Publication Notice - Scottish Household Survey (2005 - Quarter 1)

This is the eighth in a series of quarterly Statistics Publication Notices which announces the availability of the Scottish Household Survey for a particular quarter. In accordance with National Statistics, this will help to ensure orderly and open access to the Scottish Household Survey (SHS). In practice, this means that the SHS for this quarter can be used to answer questions to inform policy from people within and outwith the Scottish Executive.

The SHS is a rich source of information covering social justice, transport and housing. This publication notice presents a range of results based on the main findings from the survey. Further details on the trends over time for the above topics can be found at the Data Trends section of the SHS website.

Social Justice

• Since the question was introduced in 2001, the percentage of adults who make use of the internet for personal use has risen steadily from 29 per cent in the first quarter of 2001 to 47 per cent in the first quarter of 2005. Men make greater personal use of the internet than women with the figures for men generally being around seven percentage points higher than those for women.
• From 2005 the questionnaire was changed to clarify the meaning of "volunteering", hence the figure for Quarter 1 of 2005 may not be directly comparable with those from previous quarters. The results for the third quarter of each year show that the percentage of adults who give up their time to volunteer is 26, 27, 25 and 25 per cent for 2001 to 2004, respectively. Figures show that women are more likely to volunteer than men.
• Since the survey started, the percentage of households where either the respondent or their partner has a bank or building society account* has risen from around 85 per cent in 1999 to almost 95 per cent in the first quarter of 2005.
• Since the survey started, there are some 12 per cent of households containing at least one person who needs regular help or care.

Transport

• Since the survey started in 1999, the percentage of households without a car has fallen from about 37 per cent to around 34 per cent, and the percentage with two cars has risen from roughly 15 per cent to approximately 19 per cent.

• Slightly over three-quarters of men aged 17+ have a full driving licence compared with just over half of women. There has been little change since 1999 in the male percentage, and a slight increase in the proportion of women who have a full driving licence.

• The percentage who said that they work at or from home has increased from around 7 to 8 per cent in 1999 to 9 to 10 per cent.

• Around two-thirds of those who travel to work usually go by car or van, roughly 13 per cent walk and about 12 per cent take the bus - figures which have not changed greatly over the period since the survey started.

Housing

· Data on tenure from the Scottish Household Survey show gradual but relatively consistent changes for owning one's home outright and renting from local authorities or Scottish Homes: the proportion of respondents owning their homes outright was 22 per cent in the first quarter of 1999 compared to 28 per cent in the first quarter of 2005, while the proportion of respondents renting decreased from over one quarter in 1999 to nearly a fifth for the first quarter of 2005. The other data on tenure show a situation of relative stability, with just over 36 per cent of respondents buying their home with the help of a mortgage.

· The data on respondents' perceptions of their neighbourhood as a good place to live showed very little change over the six-year period, with approximately half saying it was a very good place to live, and a further 40 per cent agreeing that it was a fairly good place to live.

Detailed results from the 2003/2004 survey are available in the Annual Report. The main findings from a set of new questions which were first introduced in April 2003 are included in this, and future annual reports, as well as other publications.

Contacts:

Social Justice Statistics: Robert Williams Telephone: 0131 244 0443

e-mail: robert.williams@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

Transport Statistics: Frank Dixon Telephone: 0131 244 1457

e-mail: frank.dixon@scotland.gov.uk

Housing Statistics: Jan Young Telephone: 0131 244 7234

e-mail: jan.young@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

SHS Project Manager: Emma McCallum Telephone: 0131 244 8420

e-mail: shs@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

This is a National Statistics publication

This publication has been produced to high professional standards set out in the National Statistics Code of Practice and Release Practice Protocol.

http://www.statistics.gov.uk/about_ns/cop/default.asp

These statistics undergo regular quality assurance reviews to ensure that they meet customer needs. They are produced free from any political interference.

National Statistics publications are grouped under a number of broad subject headings (themes). This publication belongs to the Social and Welfare theme.

Details of pre-release access will be provided in the Scottish Executive Statistics Website under 'Forthcoming Publications'.

Background

The Scottish Household Survey is a continuous survey based on a sample of the general population in private residences in Scotland. The survey started in 1999 and is financed by the Scottish Executive and undertaken by a partnership of TNS Social and MORI Scotland.

The aim of the survey is to provide representative information about the composition, characteristics and behaviours of Scottish households, both nationally and at a more local level. The survey covers a wide range of topics to allow links to be made between different policy areas. There is a particular focus on information to inform policy on Transport, Social Justice and Housing. Results are reported in a series of bulletins, annual reports and other Scottish Executive publications which can be found on the survey's website at www.scotland.gov.uk/shs.

Anonymised copies of the survey are deposited with the UK Data Archive

after each calendar year, together with supporting documentation to facilitate wider access to, and analysis of, the information gathered.