PUBLIC OPINION POLL
GOVERNMENT SPENDING CUTS
OCTOBER 2010
Prepared For: BBC
Prepared By: Millward Brown Ulster Limited
44102643
Background and methodology

Total sample of n=1,029 respondents

Sample is fully representative of the Northern Ireland adult
(16+) population in terms of age, sex, socio-economic
grouping, area and religion

All fieldwork conducted face-to-face by members of the
Millward Brown Ulster interviewing panel

Fieldwork was conducted between 23rd September to 4th
October 2010

All research complies fully with the Market Research Society
ethical Code of Conduct, and to MRQSA ISO 20252 accreditation
Agreement regarding the necessity for spending cuts
Do you agree or disagree that public spending cuts are necessary to deal with the current economic situation?
(Base: All adults n=1,029 , chart excludes 7% don’t know)
Agreement regarding the necessity for spending cuts by
demographics
AGE
All
16-24
SOCIO-ECONOMIC GROUP
25-34
35-49
50-64
8%
7%
5%
65+
ABC1
C2
DE
RELIGION
Protestant Catholic
Strongly agree
Agree
Neither agree nor
disagree
Disagree
Strongly disagree
Don’t know
7%
15%
4%
6%
6%
10%
5%
10%
Do you agree or disagree that public spending cuts are necessary to deal with the current economic situation?
(Base: All adults n=1,029)
Concerns for potential unemployment within household
As a result of the proposed government spending cuts, how concerned or otherwise are you that you, or someone in your
household, could become unemployed? (Base: All economically active n=780, chart excludes 4% don’t know)
Concerns for potential unemployment within household by
demographics
GENDER
All
Male
Female
SOCIO-ECONOMIC
GROUP
AGE
16-24
25-34 35-49
50-64
65+
ABC1
-
3%
4%
C2
DE
RELIGION
Protestant Catholic
Very concerned
Fairly concerned
Not particularly
concerned
Not at all
concerned
Don’t know 4%
4%
3%
10%
3%
2%
4%
3%
3%
3%
As a result of the proposed government spending cuts, how concerned or otherwise are you that you, or
someone in your household, could become unemployed? (Base: All economically active n=780)
Willingness to pay water charges to help protect front line
services
Would you be prepared to pay water charges from next year, to help protect front line services from
bigger cuts? (Base: All adults n=1,029)
Willingness to pay water charges to help protect front line
services by demographics
GENDER
All
Male Female
AGE
16-24 25-34 35-49 50-64
SOCIO-ECONOMIC
GROUP
65+
ABC1
9%
13%
C2
DE
AREA
RELIGION
Gtr. Rest
Belfast of NI
Protestant Catholic
Yes
No
Don’t know 12%
9%
15%
19%
12%
11% 11%
11%
12%
12%
12%
11%
13%
Would you be prepared to pay water charges from next year, to help protect front line
services from bigger cuts? (Base: All adults n=1,029)
Government departments that should be protected from
spending cuts
If one government department could be protected from spending cuts in Northern Ireland, which, if any, of the
following do you think it should be? (Base: All adults n=1,029)
Government departments that should be protected from
spending cuts by demographics
If one government department could be protected from spending cuts in Northern Ireland, which, if any, of the
following do you think it should be? (Base: All adults n=1,029)
How will members of the Stormont Executive make decisions
on spending cuts
When considering public expenditure cuts, do you expect that members of the Stormont Executive will make
decisions in the interests of their parties or in the interests of NI as a whole? (Base All adults n=1,029)
How will members of the Stormont Executive make decisions on
spending cuts by demographics
GENDER
All
Male
14%
12%
Female
AGE
16-24
25-34
35-49
26%
12%
10%
RELIGION
50-64
65+
Protestant Catholic
In the
interests of
Northern
Ireland as a
whole
In the
interests of
their parties
Don’t know
15%
12%
12%
9%
18%
When considering public expenditure cuts, do you expect that members of the Stormont Executive will make
decisions in the interests of their parties or in the interests of NI as a whole? (Base : All adults n=1,029)