THE UK & THE EUROPEAN UNION

Transcription

1 Report ICM Research THE UK & THE EUROPEAN UNION NOVEMBER /1

2 Report ICM Research 1. Table of contents Page Methodology 3 Summary on a page 4 Research results Knowledge of the EU Depth Knowledge of the EU Source Media coverage of the EU The value of British membership of the EU Has the UK benefited from EU membership? Attitudes toward scrapping the EU Where should decisions be made? Level of support for potential policy decisions Trust in institutions 17 5 Appendix Tabular results 23 2/2

3 Report ICM Research 2. Methodology ICM Research interviewed a random sample of 6,029 people aged 15+ by telephone between 8 th 26 th November Equal numbers of interviews were achieved in each Government Office region of the country thereby enabling statistical comparisons between the regions. Data within each region was weighted to the profile of all adults in that area. To obtain data representative of the whole country, data was then weighted to reflect the actual proportion of the total population living in each area. NORTH... INTERVIEWS NORTH WEST... INTERVIEWS YORKS & HUMBERSIDE INTERVIEWS EAST MIDLANDS INTERVIEWS WEST MIDLANDS... INTERVIEWS EASTERN INTERVIEWS GREATER LONDON... INTERVIEWS SOUTH EAST INTERVIEWS SOUTH WEST... INTERVIEWS WALES... INTERVIEWS SCOTLAND... INTERVIEWS NORTHERN IRELAND... INTERVIEWS TOTAL (UK)... 6,029 INTERVIEWS 3/3

4 Report ICM Research 3. Summary on a page The UK public knows little about the European Union as an institution, or indeed about its policies. One in three (2) say they know nothing about it, while 5 say they know a little. Just one in ten (1) say that they know either a great deal or quite a lot. Television (7) is relied on the most as a source of EU news and information, but almost as many also use daily newspapers (7). Leaflets and brochures are used by about three in ten, but twice as many would actually prefer to use these sources. Well over half of the UK public think that the media provide fair coverage of the European Union. Less than one in three think that it is unfair. Less than half of the UK population think that British membership of the European Union is a good thing (4), despite twice as many thinking that membership it is a good thing compared to those who think it is a bad thing. There are real regional differences involved people in Northern Ireland are much more positive about the EU, as are Londoners and Scots than people living in areas including the North of England and the South West. Slightly more people think that British membership of the EU has been beneficial than think it has been detrimental to our interests. Again, there are significant regional differences in opinion, with people in Northern Ireland, London and Scotland upbeat about British membership. However, the inhabitants of six other regions, including Yorkshire and Humberside and Eastern, are inclined to think that Britain has not benefited. Nearly half the population would be indifferent if the EU were scrapped. Slightly more (2) would be more sorry than pleased (2). Fighting terrorism should be the decisionmaking domain of the EU according to seven in ten. Other areas where the EU receives strong (although not quite majority) support as the primary decision making body include protecting the environment, and fighting organised crime and drug trafficking all policy areas that render national boundaries irrelevant. The EU is trusted by just under half of the population. While it is not trusted quite as much as traditionally impartial UK institutions like the civil service or broadcast media, or indeed political frameworks like the House of Commons, it is still trusted more than overtly political organisations including the government, trade unions and political parties. 4/4

5 Report ICM Research 4. Research Results 100% 4.1 Knowledge of the EU Depth There is little doubt that the British public are largely ignorant about most aspects of the European Union, and they have little hesitation in admitting it. In fact, overwhelming swaths of the public (8) say that they know either a little (5) or nothing (2) about its institutions and policies. Only one in ten (1) think that they know quite a lot, while a tiny proportion () say they know a great deal about it. The findings are very consistent across the regions, with the slightly more educated and affluent residents of London (1) and the South East (1) a little more likely to say that they know quite a lot. The chart below demonstrates how patterns of knowledge about the EU are relatively consistent across the regions. Q1. How much do you feel you know about the EU, its policies, its institutions? Would you say. Great deal Quite a lot A little Nothing 80% % 40% % 0% North NW Y&H East Mids. West Mids. Eastern London SE SW Wales Scotland NI Base: All respondents (6,029) 5/5

6 Report ICM Research Variations in response are apparent, however, when it comes to demographic analysis, particularly in relation to sex, age, and terminal education age. When it comes to gender, men are much less likely to admit to knowing nothing at all (2) compared to women (3), with men (1) also more than twice as likely as women () to say that they know quite a lot. Knowledge of the EU, however slight, appears to increase with age. The table below shows that there is a gradual, but consistent growth in the depth of knowledge, as people get older. % who know a great deal/ quite a lot The level of EU knowledge increases more dramatically when it comes to educational achievement, as one might expect. Only of schoolleavers under the age of 16 years say they know a great deal or quite a lot about the EU, but the level rises consistently with terminal education age to 1 among 1718 year old leavers, 1 among 1920 year old leavers, and to 2 among 21+ year olds (all of whom, we can presume are educated to degree level). If the EU were scrapped, knowledgeable people would be more sorry than pleased. A total of 2 of those who know a great deal/a lot about the EU say they would very sorry, while 1 would be pleased. would be indifferent. Clearly, if the EU were better able to educate people in the UK about what it does, it would see incremental increases in the level of support it receives. 4.2 Knowledge of the EU Source Given that the level of knowledge is so low, it would appear that the sources of information available to people have a negligible impact. This is not to say that they do not use many sources, however, because on average, a total of 3.6 sources are used to gather information on the EU. Foremost among these is TV. The chart below shows that threequarters (7) use the medium as a source for their EU information, with older age groups most likely of all to depend on it (8 of 5564 year olds), although of course, it is probably the case they watch more TV and read more newspapers than other age groups. Daily newspapers are used by almost as many (7) as the TV. As with the TV, older people are more likely to rely on newspapers, Metropolitan dwellers (who 6/6

7 Report ICM Research are presumably reading their newspaper while commuting in and out of work), are also highly likely to use the newspaper (7) as a source. Other sources are used much less. Just over half (5) say they have discussions with friends and colleagues, just less than half (4) get it from the radio and 4 get information from other newspapers (Sunday s) and magazines. Sources which are more direct those that require a decision to actively pursue the information, are used by very few, with the exception of the internet, which a quarter (2) say they have used to find information of the EU. As for the others, less than one in ten () has sought out their own MEP or MP, while a similar number () has visited EU information offices, infopoints or Eurolibraries. Q2. When you are looking for information about the EU, its policies, its institutions, which of the following sources do you use? 90 Q3. In general, how would you prefer to get information about the EU? Sources used Sources prefer TV Daily newspapers Base: All respondents (6,029) Discussions Radio Other newspapers/mags. Books/brochures/leaflets The Internet MEP/MP EU info. Offices Other Never looked/don't want info. As one might expect, there is a high correlation between sources actually used, and sources people would prefer to use. For example, while 7 actually use the TV, only very slightly fewer (7) would prefer to use. The same applies to daily newspapers 7 actually use them and 70% would prefer to use them. The only real differentials that arise relate to the use of books, brochures and leaflets, and use of the Internet. With regard to the former, less than one in three 7/7

8 Report ICM Research (2) actually use them for information, but considerably more (5) would like to use them. While a quarter 2 says they actually use the Internet, a total of 3 would prefer to get information in this way. This is probably not so much to do with an inability to get online, but more with a deliberate decision to get this information in this way. For example, a considerably higher than average 4 of Londoners say they would prefer to get their information via the Net. London as a region has the highest level of Internet penetration in the UK, permitting the inference that a deliberate decision to seek out information on the EU has been made among many people who already have access. 4.3.Media coverage of the European Union Twice as many people think that UK media coverage of the EU is fair (5) than think it is unfair (2). Of those who do think it s fair, only a small proportion () think is it very fair, whilst the remainder (5) think it is merely quite fair. Similarly, of those who don t think coverage is fair, one in five (2) think it is not very fair whilst the remaining think coverage is not at all fair. The chart below shows how the pattern of response varies by region. Q4. How fairly do you think the media cover European Union affairs? Fairly Unfairly DK 100% % % 40% % 0% NI North Scotland Wales West Mids. Eastern NW East Mids. London SW Y&H SE Base: All respondents (6,029) 8/8

9 Report ICM Research Residents of Northern Ireland appear to have most faith in the fairness of coverage (6), closely followed by residents of the North of England (6), Scotland (6) and Wales (6). Interestingly, the three regions that demonstrate the highest levels of perceived unfair coverage are all in the South of the UK. A total of 3 in the South East, 3 in the South West and 3 in London think that this is the case. This is probably no coincidence the populations of the southern regions are disproportionately affluent and highly educated so perhaps better able than most to identify imbalances in media coverage. In fact, there does appear to be a strong correlation between terminal education age and identification of unfair media coverage of EU issues. Students who completed their education at or before the age of twenty are less likely (2) to say coverage is unfair than those who stayed on until they were twenty one or older (3). There is also a wide differential between the views of people who say they know a great deal/quite a lot about the EU and those who say they know little or nothing. Among the former group, 4 say that the media is unfair in its reporting while the figure is only 2 among the latter group. Clearly, the more informed people are about the EU the more likely they are to understand that its press relating to it is manipulated or biased The value of British membership of the European Union While it is the case that almost twice as many UK residents think that British membership of the European Union is a good thing (4) than think it is a bad thing (2), it is still true to say that more than half of the population are not convinced about the value of membership. The table below suggest that regional differences exist, but with little logic as to the cause of them. % who think membership a good thing Northern Ireland 5 London 4 Scotland 4 NW 4 Y&H 4 SE 4 East Mids 3 Wales 3 Eastern 3 West Mids 3 SW 3 North 3 9/9

10 Report ICM Research Northern Ireland (5) is the only region in which a majority believe that membership is good, although Londoners (4) and Scots (4) are not far away from majorities. The North and the South West two regions as geographically far apart as any demonstrate the lowest belief that membership is a good thing. When it comes to demographics, more consistent patterns of response are observable. As the chart below demonstrates, men (4) are (statistically) significantly more likely to think membership is a good thing compared to women (3), while membership is thought to be less of a good thing, as people get older. It is also the case that metropolitan dwellers are much more positive () toward UK membership than are town or urban dwellers (4) or indeed rural dwellers (3). Q5. Generally speaking, do you think that the UK s membership of EU is.. A good thing Neither good nor bad A bad thing DK 100% % % % 19 20% % Men Women Base: All respondents (6,029) 10/10

11 Report ICM Research 4.5 Has the UK benefited from EU membership? Opinion is without doubt split down the middle on whether the UK has benefited from membership. More people (4) think that it has than hasn t (4), but analysis of the regional breakdowns shows that as many regions think that the UK has not benefited as think that it has. The chart below demonstrates this. Overall, the net in favour is + (4 think the UK benefits minus the 4 who think we do not benefit). Q6. Taking everything into consideration, would you say that then UK on balance benefited or not from being a member of the EU? % Net (Benefit Not benefit) NI Scotland London North Wales NW East Mids. SW SE West Mids. Y&H Eastern Base: All respondents (6,029) There are six regions whose population believe that UK membership is a benefit to us with Northern Ireland very much leading the way (net +3), followed by Scotland and London. However, six more regions reveal negative net scores, with Eastern producing the worst () score. The distribution by demographics on this issue follows previously reported patterns on other questions. Men () are more likely to think the UK benefits than women (4), and the younger the person, the greater the likelihood they think the UK benefits, as the table below conclusively shows: 11/11

12 Report ICM Research % who think UK benefits % % Those people who say they think they know a great deal/a lot about the EU are also more most likely to think the UK benefits (5), which suggests that a well targeted information campaign is likely to produce positive results. Three quarters (7) of the people who think the UK s membership is a good thing believes that it has benefited from membership, although more, (8) of those who think UK membership is a bad thing think we have not benefited. 4.6 Attitudes toward scrapping the EU More people would currently be sorry (2) than pleased (2) if the EU were scrapped, but given the level of indifference (4), it is clear that it would cause little in the way of consternation in the UK. The chart below shows how there remains pockets of strong support for the EU in Northern Ireland, Scotland and London amongst other places, but that the Eastern region and South East are hotspots of opposition. Q7. If you were told tomorrow that the EU had been scrapped, would you be very pleased, indifferent or very sorry? % Net (very sorry minus very pleased) NI Scotland London NW North Y&H Wales SW West Mids. East Mids. SE Eastern Base: All respondents (6,029) 12/12

13 Report ICM Research However, the chart below suggests that this measure is likely to move in a positive direction in the future (if only by default), as older people dominate the age profile of those who would be pleased to see it scrapped now. As the older generation passes away, the new cohort will be more apathetic and indifferent (6 of 1524 year olds say they would be indifferent), thereby turning the public opinion tide in a more positive direction. The problem then, of course, becomes the attempt to motivate an electorate which simply does not care about the EU, rather than outwardly antagonistic toward it. Q7. If you were told tomorrow that the EU had been scrapped, would you be very pleased, indifferent or very sorry? Very pleased Indifferent Very sorry DK 100% % % 40% % 0% Base: All respondents (6,029) 13/13

14 Report ICM Research 4.7 Where should decisions be made? Fighting unemployment is conclusively thought to be something that should fall within the sphere of UK government policy making. Overall, 80% think that this should be the case, with only one in five (1) saying that decisions on this should be made at EU level. This is arguably the only area that could be called off limits as far as EU involvement is concerned. There are a number of other areas where around one in three think that decisionmaking should be made at European level. This is the case with tackling the challenges of an aging population (3), protecting consumers (3) and fighting poverty and social exclusion (3). Q10. For each of the following areas, do you think that the decisions should be made by the UK government, or at European Union level? By UK Government At European level DK Fighting unemployment Tackling the challenges of an ageing population Protecting consumers & guaranteeing quality of other products Fighting poverty and social exclusion % 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Base: All respondents (6,029) Whilst the influence of the EU could be argued to be formative on the issues shown in the chart above, when it comes to the other issues we asked about which are shown on the chart overleaf its influence could be said to be already strong. They include fighting terrorism, crime and drug trafficking and protecting the environment. The majority of these areas involve practical considerations that extend beyond the concept of national boundaries, something that appears to have been perceived by the UK public given the pattern of their response. 14/14

15 Report ICM Research Fighting terrorism is seen to be a paneuropean issue, for which collusion between governments (that only the EU is best able to ensure on the European continent) is necessary. Two in three (6) think that decisions should be taken at EU level on this issue a significantly higher proportion than for all other policy areas. However, more people think that the EU should be responsible for protecting the environment than think the UK government should be, whilst an exact split between the two is produced for fighting organised crime and drug trafficking. More people still think that the UK government should be responsible for guaranteeing rights and guaranteeing food quality, but one might imagine that it might not be long before a majority is more in favour of EU decision making. Q10. For each of the following areas, do you think that the decisions should be made by the UK government, or at European Union level? By UK Government At European level DK Guaranteeing food quality Guaranteeing individuals rights & respect for democracy principles Fighting organised crime & drug trafficking Protecting the environment Fighting terrorism Base: All respondents (6,029) 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 15/15

16 Report ICM Research 4.8 Level of support for potential policy decisions There is widespread support for many EU policy proposals. Foremost amongst them, is the idea to teach school children about the framework of EU institutions, which is supported by almost nine in ten (8) of the UK public. This is easily the most well supported proposal, but three more the resignation of the President and Commission if they lose the support of the Parliament (6), a common defence and security policy (6), and EU enlargement (6) receive support from two in three. Q8. What is your opinion for each of the following statements? For each one, please tell me whether you are for or against it. For Against DK Teaching children about way EU institutions work Resignation of EC President & Commisoners if not supported by European Parliament Common defence and security EU enlargement EU responsible for other matters ineffectively handled by national governments Common foreign policy Monetary union % 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Base: All respondents (6,029) There is one other policy where more people are in favour than against, but which still fails to achieve majority backing. Just under half (4) support the idea that the EU should be responsible for matters that national governments have failed to handle effectively. More people are against a common foreign policy, with 4 saying this is the case compared to 4 who are in favour. Given the determination of the British government to retain decisionmaking in this kind of area, it is something of a surprise that the result is so tight. However, it appears that the public in the UK 16/16

17 Report ICM Research realise that increasing levels of cooperation are required in a modern political landscape in which threats are levelled at EU members as an entity rather than as independent states. The only area where the public remain decisively against is that of monetary union. The level of support for British entry into the single currency has been measured (by ICM) for over ten years, and support for it does not often rise over the 30% mark. (Full monthbymonth trend analysis using the ICM question can be found at However, this latest question has produced something of a more favourable response, with 3 saying they are for monetary union, with one single currency. This probably remains well below the level needed to convince the Prime Minister to call a referendum on the issue in the short term, but will no doubt be well received by the yes camp none the less. 4.9 Trust in institutions The European Union is trusted by less than half (4) of the UK public, which is less than British political institutions like the British Parliament (4) and Civil Service (), but more than the British government or indeed political parties (1) in general. Q9. I would like to ask you a question about how much trust you have in certain institutions. For each of the following institutions, please tell me if you tend to trust it or tend not to trust it? Tend to trust Tend not to trust DK United Nations Television Radio The civil service The British Parliament European union The British government Trade unions NGO's Big companies The press Political parties % 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Base: All respondents (6,029) 17/17

18 Report ICM Research Trust in the EU more or less follows a pattern evident within answers to other questions. Residents of Northern Ireland (6) display the greatest level of support (trust) in the EU, followed by Scots () and Londoners (4). People in the South East (5), Yorkshire and Humberside (5) and the Eastern (4) regions show the highest level of distrust. Breakdown by age also shows a familiar pattern. The table below shows that people are less trustful of the EU the older they are. The question, of course, is whether the current oldest cohort is alone in its distrust of the EU or whether people become more distrustful of it as they get older? The former is more likely to be the case, and one might hypothesise that distrust in the EU gradually dissipates over time. % who trust the EU % When it comes to the other institutions, the survey answers match what one might have intuitively expected. The United Nations is perceived to be the most trustworthy institution (7), followed television (6) and radio (6). In the UK, most television and radio stations are legally obliged to be impartial, and the public, (despite the scepticism of up to one in three), largely accepts this. Institutions that are perceived to be overtly political in nature are naturally trusted less. Hence the British government is trusted less than the institutional framework of government (the parliament), while trade unions (3), NGO s (3), big companies (2), the written press (1) and most especially political parties (1) are trusted by even fewer people. Of course, most people in the UK are deeply cynical when it comes to politics. Most have little time or interest in politics, and few people admire politicians. Party politics and politicians are increasingly viewed with disdain, and voter apathy has increased significantly over the last decade. For these reasons, it is inevitable that political parties are the least trusted institution, if only by a slight margin from the press, which is correctly perceived to be biased in its reporting of political issues and viewed with equal cynicism by many people. 18/18

19 Report ICM Research Appendix the questionnaire in CATI format (Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing) Introduction: Good evening, my name is...,i'm calling from ICM Research the independent market research company. We are conducting a research project which requires us to talk to a representative sample of people throughout the country on issues that affect all people. We have selected your telephone number purely at random and would greatly appreciate your help for a few minutes to answer some simple questions. IF RESPONDENT SOUNDS LIKE THEY WANT TO REFUSE SAY: For the purpose of our research project it is most important that we talk to a representative cross section of all people. Therefore, your views are extremely important to us and the interview will only take a few minutes of your time. IF RESPONDENT STILL SOUNDS LIKE THEY WANT TO REFUSE, SAY: If you cannot spare the time at the moment I would really appreciate it if we could call you back at your own convenience over the next... days. As I say, your own views are very important to us.' Q.1. How much do you feel you know about the European Union, its policies, its institutions? Would you say that... READ OUT 'You know a great deal about it' 'You know quite a lot about it' 'You know a little about it' 'You know nothing at all about it' DK Q.2. When you are looking for information about the EU, its policies, its institutions, which of the following sources do you use... READ OUT. CODE ALL THAT APPLY 'Discussions with relatives, friends, colleagues' 'Daily newspapers' 'Other newspapers, magazines' 'TV' 'Radio' 'The internet, the WWW' 'Books, brochures, information leaflets' 'EUinformation offices, EICs Euroinfopoints, Eurolibraries etc.' 'MEP/MP' 'Other' '(DO NOT READ OUT): Never look for such info/not interested DK Q.3. In general, how would you prefer to get information about the EU... READ OUT. CODE ALL THAT APPLY 'A leaflet or a brochure' 'On the internet' 'From the TV' 'From the radio' 'From the daily papers' 'From other papers/magazines' 'Other' '(DO NOT READ OUT): I don't want info about the EU '(DO NOT READ OUT): None of these ways' DK 19/19

20 Report ICM Research Q.4. How fairly do you think the media cover European Union Affairs... READ OUT 'Very fairly' 'Quite fairly' 'Not very fairly' 'Not at all fairly' DK Q.5. Generally speaking do you think that the UK''s membership of the EU is... READ OUT 'A good thing ' 'Neither a good nor a bad thing ' 'A bad thing ' DK Q.6. Taking everything into consideration, would you say that the UK has on balance benefited or not from being a member of the EU? 'Benefited' 'Not Benefited' DK Q.7. If you were told tomorrow that the European Union had been scrapped, would you be very pleased, indifferent or very sorry? 'Very pleased' 'Indifferent' 'Very sorry' DK Q.8. What is your opinion on each of the following statements? Please tell me for each statement, whether you are for it or against it... 'You are for it'/ 'You are against it' DK 'A European Monetary Union with one single currency, the euro' 'One common foreign policy among the member states of the European Union, towards other countries' 'A common defence and security policy among the European Union member states' 'The enlargement of the European Union to include new countries' 'The European Union being responsible for matters that cannot be effectively handled by national, regional and local governments' 'The resignation of the President of the European Commission and the European Commissioners if they do not have the support of a majority in the European Parliament' 'Teaching school children about the way European Union institutions work' 20/20

21 Report ICM Research Q.9 I would like to ask you a question about how much trust you have in certain institutions. For each of the following institutions, please tell me if you tend to trust it or tend not to trust it... 'You tend to trust it' 'You tend not to trust it' DK 'The press' 'Radio' 'Television' 'Trade unions' 'Political parties' 'The civil service' 'Big companies' 'The British government' 'The British Parliament (House of Commons)' 'The European Union' 'The United Nations' 'NonGovernmental Organisations (NGO)' Q.10 For each of the following areas, do you think that decisions should be made by the UK government or at the European Union level... 'By the UK government'/ 'At the European Union level' DK 'Fighting poverty and social exclusion' 'Protecting the environment' 'Guaranteeing the quality of food products' 'Protecting consumers and guaranteeing the quality of other products' 'Fighting unemployment' 'Fighting organised crime and drug trafficking' 'Guaranteeing the rights of the individual and respect for the principles of democracy ' 'Fighting terrorism ' 'Tackling the challenges of an ageing population' Just a few questions now to help us classify the answers you have given... D.2. Firstly, Can you tell me your age please? D.3. At what age did you leave full time education? D.4. As far as your current occupation is concerned, would you say you are selfemployed, an employee (nonmanual), a manual worker or would you say that you are without a professional activity? 1.'Selfemployed' 'Farmer, forester, fisherman' 'Owner of a shop, craftsman' 'Professional (lawyer, medical practitioner, accountant, architect,)' 'Manager of a company' 'Other self employed' 21/21

22 Report ICM Research 2. 'Employee (nonmanual)' 'Professional (employed doctor, lawyer, accountant, architect)' 'General management, director or top management' 'Middle management' Civil servant' 'Office clerk' 'Other employee (salesman, nurse, etc)' 'Other employee' 3.'Manual worker' 'Supervisor / foreman (team manager, etc )' 'Manual worker' 'Unskilled manual worker' 'Other manual worker' 4. Without a professional activity' 'Other manual worker' 'Looking after the home' 'Student (full time)' 'Retired' 'Seeking a job' 'Other not working' 5. 'Refused' D.6. And the area you live in, would you describe it as...? READ OUT 'Metropolitan' 'Other Town/urban centre' 'Rural' DK On behalf of ICM, I would like to thank you for the time and help you''ve given me today. D.1. INTERVIEWER CODE SEX OF RESPONDENT 'Male'/ 'Female' /

23 Report ICM Research TABULAR RESULTS 23/23

24 Q.1. How much do you feel you know about the European Union, its policies, its institutions? Would you say that...? Page 1 North North West Yorks & Humberside East Midlands West Midlands Region Eastern Greater London South East South West Wales Scotland Northern Ireland Unweighted Weighted You know a great deal about it You know quite a lot about it You know a little about it You know nothing at all about it Fieldwork Dates : 11th26th November 2002

25 Q.1. How much do you feel you know about the European Union, its policies, its institutions? Would you say that...? Page 2 Male Sex Female Age or younger 1718 Age left FT Education Still in Never had Metropoli tan Locality Other Town/ urban centre Rural Unweighted Weighted You know a great deal about it You know quite a lot about it You know a little about it You know nothing at all about it Fieldwork Dates : 11th26th November 2002

26 Q.1. How much do you feel you know about the European Union, its policies, its institutions? Would you say that...? Page 3 Knowledgeof EU Great deal/ A little/ quite a lot Nothing Media Coverage Fair Unfair A good thing UK Membership A bad thing Benefited Not Benefited Very pleased EU Scrapped Indifferent Very sorry Unweighted Weighted You know a great deal about it You know quite a lot about it % You know a little about it % % % You know nothing at all about it Fieldwork Dates : 11th26th November 2002

27 Q.2. When you are looking for information about the EU, its policies, its institutions, which of the following sources do you use? The UK & The European Union Page 4 North North West Yorks & Humberside East Midlands West Midlands Region Eastern Greater London South East South West Wales Scotland Northern Ireland Unweighted Weighted TV % % Daily newspapers % Discussions with relatives, friends, colleagues Radio % 65 40% Other newspapers, magazines Books, brochures, information leaflets % 50 30% The internet, the WWW % MEP/MP EUinformation offices, EICs Euroinfopoints, Eurolibraries etc Other Never look for such info/not interested Fieldwork Dates : 11th26th November 2002

28 Q.2. When you are looking for information about the EU, its policies, its institutions, which of the following sources do you use? The UK & The European Union Page 5 Male Sex Female Age or younger 1718 Age left FT Education Still in Never had Metropoli tan Locality Other Town/ urban centre Rural Unweighted Weighted TV % % Daily newspapers Discussions with relatives, friends, colleagues Radio Other newspapers, magazines % Books, brochures, information leaflets % The internet, the WWW % MEP/MP EUinformation offices, EICs Euroinfopoints, Eurolibraries etc Other Never look for such info/not interested Fieldwork Dates : 11th26th November 2002

29 Q.2. When you are looking for information about the EU, its policies, its institutions, which of the following sources do you use? The UK & The European Union Page 6 Knowledgeof EU Great deal/ A little/ quite a lot Nothing Media Coverage Fair Unfair A good thing UK Membership A bad thing Benefited Not Benefited Very pleased EU Scrapped Indifferent Very sorry Unweighted Weighted TV Daily newspapers % % Discussions with relatives, friends, colleagues Radio Other newspapers, magazines % % Books, brochures, information leaflets % The internet, the WWW MEP/MP EUinformation offices, EICs Euroinfopoints, Eurolibraries etc Other Never look for such info/not interested Fieldwork Dates : 11th26th November 2002

30 Q.3. In general, how would you prefer to get information about the EU? The UK & The European Union Page 7 North North West Yorks & Humberside East Midlands West Midlands Region Eastern Greater London South East South West Wales Scotland Northern Ireland Unweighted Weighted From the TV % % % From the daily papers % % % A leaflet or a brochure % % From the radio % From other papers/ magazines On the internet Other I don't want info about the EU None of these ways Fieldwork Dates : 11th26th November 2002

31 Q.3. In general, how would you prefer to get information about the EU? The UK & The European Union Page 8 Male Sex Female Age or younger 1718 Age left FT Education Still in Never had Metropoli tan Locality Other Town/ urban centre Rural Unweighted Weighted From the TV From the daily papers % % % % A leaflet or a brochure % From the radio From other papers/ magazines On the internet % Other I don't want info about the EU None of these ways Fieldwork Dates : 11th26th November 2002

32 Q.3. In general, how would you prefer to get information about the EU? The UK & The European Union Page 9 Knowledgeof EU Great deal/ A little/ quite a lot Nothing Media Coverage Fair Unfair A good thing UK Membership A bad thing Benefited Not Benefited Very pleased EU Scrapped Indifferent Very sorry Unweighted Weighted From the TV From the daily papers % % 11 7 A leaflet or a brochure % % % From the radio From other papers/ magazines On the internet % Other I don't want info about the EU None of these ways Fieldwork Dates : 11th26th November 2002

33 Q.4. How fairly do you think the media cover European Union Affairs? The UK & The European Union Page 10 North North West Yorks & Humberside East Midlands West Midlands Region Eastern Greater London South East South West Wales Scotland Northern Ireland Unweighted Weighted Net Very/Quite fairly % % Very fairly (2) Quite fairly (1) Not very fairly (1) % % 28 1 Not at all fairly (2) Net Not very/not at all fairly % Mean Standard deviation Standard error Fieldwork Dates : 11th26th November 2002

34 Q.4. How fairly do you think the media cover European Union Affairs? The UK & The European Union Page 11 Male Sex Female Age or younger 1718 Age left FT Education Still in Never had Metropoli tan Locality Other Town/ urban centre Rural Unweighted Weighted Net Very/Quite fairly % Very fairly (2) Quite fairly (1) Not very fairly (1) % % % Not at all fairly (2) Net Not very/not at all fairly % Mean Standard deviation Standard error Fieldwork Dates : 11th26th November 2002

35 Q.4. How fairly do you think the media cover European Union Affairs? The UK & The European Union Page 12 Knowledgeof EU Great deal/ A little/ quite a lot Nothing Media Coverage Fair Unfair A good thing UK Membership A bad thing Benefited Not Benefited Very pleased EU Scrapped Indifferent Very sorry Unweighted Weighted Net Very/Quite fairly % Very fairly (2) Quite fairly (1) % Not very fairly (1) % Not at all fairly (2) Net Not very/not at all fairly % % Mean Standard deviation Standard error Fieldwork Dates : 11th26th November 2002

36 Q.5. Generally speaking do you think that the UK's membership of the EU is...? The UK & The European Union Page 13 North North West Yorks & Humberside East Midlands West Midlands Region Eastern Greater London South East South West Wales Scotland Northern Ireland Unweighted Weighted A good thing (1) Neither a good nor a bad thing (0) A bad thing (1) % Mean Standard deviation Standard error Fieldwork Dates : 11th26th November 2002

37 Q.5. Generally speaking do you think that the UK's membership of the EU is...? The UK & The European Union Page 14 Male Sex Female Age or younger 1718 Age left FT Education Still in Never had Metropoli tan Locality Other Town/ urban centre Rural Unweighted Weighted A good thing (1) Neither a good nor a bad thing (0) % A bad thing (1) % % % Mean Standard deviation Standard error Fieldwork Dates : 11th26th November 2002

38 Q.5. Generally speaking do you think that the UK's membership of the EU is...? The UK & The European Union Page 15 Knowledgeof EU Great deal/ A little/ quite a lot Nothing Media Coverage Fair Unfair A good thing UK Membership A bad thing Benefited Not Benefited Very pleased EU Scrapped Indifferent Very sorry Unweighted Weighted A good thing (1) % % % Neither a good nor a bad thing (0) % % % A bad thing (1) % Mean Standard deviation Standard error Fieldwork Dates : 11th26th November 2002