briefing on the funding of the nhs in scotland
Public opinion polls on health spending
Opinion polls in the run-up to the 1999 Scottish Parliamentary elections demonstrated the importance the electorate placed on the health service with it being identified as the single, most important issue. (The Scotsman/ICM Monthly Poll, The Scotsman, 2 April 1999)
The Scottish Parliament has the power to vary the basic rate of income tax by up to three pence in the pound. This tax varying power is viewed by some as a means of sourcing additional finance for the health service in Scotland. Indeed two of the major parties, the Liberal Democrats and Scottish National Party, campaigned on the basis of reversing the proposed income tax cut of one pence being instituted in April 2000 in favour of increased spending on public services. Therefore, under their plans, Scotland would have been subject to a higher rate of income tax than the rest of the UK. There is evidence that Scotland’s voters are not averse to this scenario. When asked about plans for increased taxation to be spent on public services (which would leave the average Scottish taxpayer £11 a month worse off than their counterpart in England and Wales), 41% indicated it would make no difference to their voting decision and 17% opinioned it would make them more likely to vote for the party endorsing increased taxation. (The Scotsman/ICM Monthly Poll, The Scotsman, 2 March 1999) Similarly in another poll, 52% were in favour of increasing taxes by one pence, in contrast 37% wanted the proposed April tax cut introduced and 11% expressed no opinion one way or another. ("Labour pulls clear despite poll backing for SNP’s Tartan Tax", The Herald, 2 April 1999)
A recent poll, conducted by NOP for ITV’s "This Week" programme (quoted in "Support for tax rises to help NHS", The Herald, 20 March 2000) in the week prior to the March Budget, gives a Scottish perspective on current thinking on the health service:
58% of Scots see no improvement in the NHSiS since the General Election.
68% believed there is a funding crisis in the NHSiS.
52% would support income tax rises if revenue is channelled into the NHS.
In contrast, 28% were against paying additional income tax.
Of those in favour of tax rises, 55% were willing to pay an extra 2p and 17% were willing to pay 4p or more.
55% of Scots would not take out private health insurance.
However more than 75% were willing to pay for individual services: 44% for GP appointments; 52% for an overnight hospital stay; 37% for hospital food.