The Scottish Government

Millennium Poverty and Social Exclusion Survey

Most recent survey 1999.
No follow up has been funded.

Small but representative sample. 54 areas were sampled in Scotland.

1999 survey aimed to provide estimates of the proportions of households in different circumstances, explore movements in and out of poverty and examine age and gender differences to poverty.

Medium, as may be a useful baseline but the lack of follow up data limits utility

ESRC Millennium Cohort Survey

The second sweep of this survey was December 2003. The third sweep will be November 2005. The survey is likely to be repeated bi-annually - November 2007 and November 2009.
There is a significant time lag between data collection and availability, 2003 data not yet available. 2007 data could therefore be included in the overall evaluation report.

Study of 15,000 babies born in the UK over a 12-month period. Longitudinal study of the cohort. Some possibility for comparative analysis of deprivation levels amongst the cohort as CtOG progresses.
Scottish sample size: 2,500. Boost samples in areas of high deprivation.

Health, family demographics, housing, parents' education, parents' employment, parents' income and use of local services.

Medium, as although the subject matter is of relevance the time lag between data collection and release limits utility.

Families and Children Study

The survey is carried out annually. Cohort study so good source of longitudinal data.

711 adult respondents in Scotland. Children aged 11-15 also now also complete a questionnaire.

Covers work incentives and family welfare (accommodation family health, morale and optimism and avoidance of hardship and debt).

High

Family Resources Survey

Annually.
Fieldwork lasts a year and is released a year later.
Good baseline and strong for performance monitoring

2000 households in Scotland, from 2001 extended to cover Highlands and Islands.

Household and individual characteristics, housing, income, family expenditure and costs of housing/transport etc.

High

National Child Development Survey

Data collection every 4 years. 2004 sweep available in data archive January 2006. Future sweep at 2008, which will be available for 2010.

In 1999, 1000 people interviewed in Scotland.

The aim of the study is to improve understanding of the factors affecting human development over the whole lifespan. Socio-demographic data collected at each point, varies according to point in life course of sample.

Medium, as although there may be some useful data to consider the overall purpose of the survey is to consider child development.

British Cohort Survey

Data collection every 4 years. June 2005 sweep will be available September 2005. Next sweep will then be June 2010, available September 2010.

Scottish sample 1000 people

Socio-demographic information re: participants, following sets of questions are of relevance to particular points in life course of participants.

Medium, questions highly relevant but infrequent data collection.

Scottish Social Attitudes survey

2005 fieldwork took place August -November. Annually, data release around a year following collection, but may be faster as sponsor is Scottish Executive.

1600 interviews a year.

Views on a range of political, social, economic and moral issues, with some core and many non-core questions. It may be possible to place specific questions for duration of CtOG

High, especially if questions specific to CtOG are placed.

Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation

The SIMD 2004 is the first output from the 'long term strategy for measuring deprivation' that was developed in partnership with the Scottish Centre for Research on Social Justice.
The majority of 2004 data represents the situation as of 2002. The 2004 report became available on 14th June of the same year. The 2007 report, representing the situation as of 2005, should be available for inclusion in the synthesis report.

The SIMD provides a detailed measure of area based poverty and deprivation, dividing Scotland into 6,500 data zones. It therefore allows progress towards poverty reduction to be considered at a very local level. Analysis is available annually.

The index brings together 31 different indicators that cover specific aspects of deprivation: Current Income, Employment, Health, Education, Housing and Access. These are combined to create the overall SIMD.
The SIMD measure on housing deprivation provides evidence on an indicator which has no specific target or objective attached to it. This will therefore be important to test the assumption that this indicator will be positively impacted by progress in other areas of poverty reduction.

High, especially given the wide range of factors that are incorporated into the poverty analysis.

Joseph Rowntree Foundation/ NPI - annual review of poverty indicators

Bi-annually, published towards the end of each year and accessible for free via the Joseph Rowntree Foundation website. The first analysis was undertaken in 2002, with a further analysis published in 2004. The next full report will be available towards the end of 2006.
The 2006 analysis will provide a good benchmark to consider progress since 2002. The 2008 and 2010 reports will provide strong data to inform the overall CtOG evaluation.

The review provides
independent analysis of poverty and social exclusion from a wide range of sources, including government funded surveys, some administrative data and local and health authority returns.
In all cases the indicators use the latest data that is available. This is typically from the year of publication, or the year immediately prior to publication. The authors state clearly where a lack of data has any impact upon the quality of their analysis.

Poverty and social exclusion indicators are considered under the following headings: poverty and low income; work and education; ill health; quality of life and social cohesion. 40 indicators are considered in total.

High, especially given the wide range of factors that are incorporated into the poverty analysis.

Households below average income analysis

This analysis is based upon the findings of the Family Resources survey.
Results are published annually. Findings for 2003/04 were published on 30th March 2005.

Data can be disaggregated to Scotland, but not to a local authority level.

The analysis provides estimates of the proportions and numbers of children, working age adults and pensioners living in low-income households.

High

MORI social policy monitor

The MORI Social Policy Monitor is a new multi-purpose survey designed to collect regular, robust data on the characteristics and opinions of the Scottish population. The sampling and survey approaches are based on the Scottish Household Survey, but the focus of the MORI Social Policy Monitor is forward-looking, covering issues and debates and monitoring trends that will shape the future of Scottish politics and society.
1,000 interviews are undertaken four times each year reflecting the population distribution, giving a nationally representative sample of 4,000 households per year. Full data are available a month following the completion of fieldwork.

Data are Scotland specific. The standard demographics include employment status and SIMD quintile.

Since the survey was set up it has Since it was set up, the survey has covered diverse
topics such as: public attitudes towards adult entertainment for
The Scottish Executive's Adult Entertainment Working Group; public participation in civic life in Scotland; attitudes to social work for the 21st Century Social
Work Review; knowledge of healthcare rights for the Scottish
Consumer Council; voting intentions in the 2005 Westminster
elections and 2007 Scottish Parliament elections; views of the impact of the Scottish Parliament
and devolution for the Scottish Parliament; attitudes towards Council Tax and local
Government finance for the Local Government
Finance Review Committee; public views of councilors' remuneration for the
Scottish Local Authorities Remuneration
Committee

Medium, could be a means to place particular questions to measure attitudinal change during the CtOG programme, but the cost could be high with much of the information available from existing surveys.

British Household Panel Survey

Undertaken annually in September
Data is available approximately 6 months after collection. Could therefore inform both the overall evaluation and the synthesis report.

Scottish sample of 1500 households. Can be disaggregated by local authority district.

Core questions on employment and on employment and health.

High

Scottish Household Survey

Continuous, data collected every 3 months across Scotland. 9-month gap between collection and availability.
Strong baseline, also providing opportunities for ongoing assessment.

15,500 respondents interviewed annually across Scotland. Can be disaggregated by local authority area.

Household demographics, property, use of services, community participation. Range of questions on quality of life.

High