Increase funding for NHS, says poll of public

Since the Government began a programme of health reforms, the proportion of Britons satisfied with the health service has fallen from an all-time high of 70 per cent in 2010 to 58 per cent in 2011, according to the British Social Attitudes report by NatCen Social Research.

And for the first time in nearly a decade the proportion of people who want more public spending, even if it means higher taxes, has increased from 31 per cent to 36 per cent between 2010 and 2011, the report showed.

More than half (55 per cent) want spending to remain the same. In addition, more than two thirds (68 per cent) chose health as their priority for more government spending.

The Government’s pledge to get on top of welfare spending is going down well with voters.

In 2001, nearly nine out of 10 people (88 per cent) agreed that the Government should be mainly responsible for ensuring unemployed people have enough to live on. Just over half (59 per cent) think that now.

The proportion who think the Government is responsible for ensuring retired people have enough to live on has fallen from 62 per cent to 52 per cent between 2001 and 2010.

In contrast to the recession of the early Nineties, support for welfare provision has continued to fall as the economic slump goes on. More than half (54 per cent) now believe that more people would stand on their own feet if benefits were less generous – compared with just over a quarter (26 per cent) in 1991.

Some 28 per cent) want to see more spending on benefits now, a decrease from nearly six in 10 (58 per cent) in 1991.

The early Nineties recession brought about concerns that benefits were too low and caused hardship, with 55 per cent of people thinking this in 1993. That contrasts with 19 per cent who think the same today, the study showed.

In addition, the proportion of people who wanted to see more spending on benefits for the disabled has gradually fallen from 74 per cent in 1998 to 63 per cent and 53 per cent by 2011.

On immigration, voters are more positive about highly skilled migrants but would generally like to see the levels of people coming into this country reduced.

About half (51 per cent) would like to see immigration levels reduce a lot, up from 39 per cent in 1995. A further 24 per cent would like to see levels reduce a little.

More than one-in-two people (52 per cent) think migrants are generally bad for Britain’s economy, up from 43 per cent in 2002. A similar proportion (48 per cent) think migration undermines Britain’s cultural life, up from 33 per cent in 2002.

The researchers asked people about their attitudes towards eastern European migrants. In cases where the migrants were highly skilled professionals, 59 per cent think they are good for Britain but if they were unskilled labourers, support fell to 19 per cent.

Penny Young, chief executive of NatCen Social Research, said: “These findings uncover tough challenges ahead for the coalition Government. Less than half way through the Parliament, there is already concern about cuts and their effect on public services.

“However, more encouragingly for Ministers, there is clear support for welfare and immigration reform – two areas we are already seeing emerge as key battlegrounds for the next General Election.”

The 2011 survey was the 29th British Social Attitudes report and researchers carried out 3,311 interviews with a representative, random sample of adults.