6. How we live
Introduction
This chapter focuses on household resources. It looks at ownership of material possessions including cars and personal computers, and financial resources of different types. The section also examines health and ill-health, registration with, and use of, GP services and the provision and receipt of childcare and care for the adult population.
Please refer to Chapter 2 for more information about interpreting the information in the tables in this section.
Household resources
Around two-thirds of households (66%) have access to at least one car for private use. Over three-quarters of households (77%) where the Highest Income Householder ( HIH) is male have access to a car, compared with 50% of households with a female HIH ( Table 6.1). Almost all (98%) households with a net annual income over £40,000 a year have access to a car for private use, compared with only 35% of households with a net annual income of £6,000 or less ( Table 6.3).
The proportion of households with access to two or more cars has increased since 1999 ( Table 6.6). In 1999, 17.8% of households had access to two or more vehicles, while in 2004, 22.9% of households had access to two or more cars. Households in rural areas are more likely than those in urban areas to have access to two or more cars. ( Table 6.4)
Table 6.11 shows drivers' means of making various types of journey. Drivers are most likely to use a car for supermarket shopping (87% always use a car for this) and visiting friends and relatives (72% always use a car for this). The majority of drivers say they always use a car to see a G.P. (64%) and for town centre shopping (59%).
Around two-fifths (43%) of households have home internet access ( Table 6.20). Of households with a net annual income of over £40,000, 89% have home internet access. This compares with 17% of households with a net annual income of £6,000 or less ( Table 6.22).
Among the adults in Scotland who use the internet, the most common purposes are for using e-mail (86%), general browsing or surfing (72%) and finding information about goods/services (68%) ( Table 6.31).
Financial resources
Almost half of households (48%) have a net annual household income of £15,000 or less. Only 6% of households have a net annual income of more than £40,000 ( Table 6.35) 11.
Just over half of all households (53%) have savings or investments. Only 22% of single parent households have savings or investments ( Table 6.39). The proportion of households with a bank or building society account has increased since 1999 - 85.8% had an account in 1999 compared with 89.9% in 2004 ( Table 6.48).
Health and caring
Over a quarter (27%) of adults smoke cigarettes. Men (28%) are more like to smoke than women (25%) ( Table 6.55). Males aged 25 to 34 are most likely to smoke, with 35% doing so ( Figure 6-1). Those in East Dunbartonshire are least likely to smoke (18%) and those in East Ayrshire (35%) are most likely to smoke ( Table 6.57).
Around a third of all households (34%) contain at least one person with a long-standing limiting illness, health problem or disability ( Table 6.1). Households with low net annual incomes are most likely to contain someone with a long-standing limiting illness, health problem or disability: 43% of households with a net annual income of £6,000 or less, and 51% of households with a net annual income of £6,001 to £10,000. In comparison, 12% of households with a net annual income of over £40,000 contain someone with a long-standing limiting illness, health problem or disability ( Table 6.59). Older smaller households and single pensioner households are most likely to contain someone with a long-standing limiting illness, health problem or disability (55% and 52% respectively) ( Table 6.60).
Less than half (45%) of children aged 1 to 15 have some form of childcare ( Table 6.53). Childcare is provided by a relative or partner for over a quarter (28%) of all children aged 1 to 15. Around two-thirds of households that use childcare do so in order to enable parents/guardians to go to work ( Table 6.54).
Just over one in nine (12%) of all households contain someone who needs regular help or care because they are sick, disabled or elderly. Households with at least one person who needs regular help or care because they are sick, disabled or elderly are more prevalent in social rented housing than in other tenure types ( Table 6.70). Overall, 45% of households with at least one person requiring reular help or care have a carer from outwith the household, while 30% have 1 carer within the household ( Table 6.74).
Around a third (34%) of adults with a long standing illness, health problem or disability have adaptations made to their home or specialist equipment ( Table 6.66). The most common forms of adaptations and equipment are handrails (52%), walking sticks/crutches (46%) and bath/shower seats (41%). The most commonly needed adaptations and equipment are handrails (23%) and bath/shower seats (19%) ( Table 6.67).
Table 6.1: Whether any cars normally available for private use by sex of Highest Income Householder
Column percentages, 2003/2004 data
Households
| Male | Female | All |
|---|
Yes | 77 | 50 | 66 |
|---|
No | 23 | 50 | 34 |
|---|
Total | 100 | 100 | 100 |
|---|
Base | 18,586 | 12,236 | 30,822 |
|---|
Table 6.2: Cars household normally has available by household type
Column percentages, 2003/2004 data
Households
| Single adult | Small adult | Single parent | Small family | Large family | Large adult | Older smaller | Single pensioner | All |
|---|
None | 50 | 17 | 56 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 26 | 72 | 34 |
|---|
One | 47 | 48 | 42 | 48 | 41 | 31 | 60 | 28 | 44 |
|---|
Two | 2 | 33 | 2 | 39 | 38 | 37 | 13 | 1 | 19 |
|---|
Three or more | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
|---|
Total | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
|---|
Base | 4,976 | 5,153 | 1,777 | 4,248 | 2,036 | 2,938 | 4,655 | 5,039 | 30,822 |
|---|
Table 6.3: Whether any cars normally available for private use by net annual household income
Column percentages, 2003/2004 data
Households
| £0 - £6,000 | £6,000 - £10,000 | £10,001 - £15,000 | £15,001 -£20,000 | £20,001 - £25,000 | £25,001 - £30,000 | £30,001 - £40,000 | Over £40,000 | All (income known) |
|---|
Yes | 35 | 36 | 55 | 77 | 90 | 95 | 97 | 98 | 67 |
|---|
No | 65 | 64 | 45 | 23 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 33 |
|---|
Total | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
|---|
Base | 2,566 | 5,697 | 6,126 | 4,338 | 3,429 | 2,772 | 3,063 | 1,741 | 29,732 |
|---|
Table 6.4: Cars normally available for private use by urban/rural classification
Column percentages, 2003/2004
Households
| Large urban areas | Other urban areas | Accessible small towns | Remote small towns | Accessible rural | Remote rural | Scotland |
|---|
None | 43 | 33 | 26 | 35 | 17 | 17 | 34 |
|---|
One | 41 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 44 | 49 | 44 |
|---|
Two | 14 | 19 | 23 | 15 | 33 | 28 | 19 |
|---|
Three or more | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 3 |
|---|
Total | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
|---|
Base | 11,265 | 8,622 | 3,196 | 1,379 | 3,744 | 2,613 | 30,819 |
|---|
Table 6.5: Cars household normally has available by local authority
Row percentages, 2003/2004 data Households
| None | One | Two | Three or more | Total | Base |
|---|
Aberdeen City | 31 | 47 | 19 | 2 | 100 | 1,232 |
|---|
Aberdeenshire | 16 | 48 | 30 | 7 | 100 | 1,237 |
|---|
Angus | 28 | 46 | 23 | 3 | 100 | 628 |
|---|
Argyll and Bute | 31 | 43 | 23 | 3 | 100 | 551 |
|---|
Clackmannanshire | 29 | 43 | 23 | 5 | 100 | 579 |
|---|
Dumfries and Galloway | 26 | 50 | 22 | 3 | 100 | 815 |
|---|
Dundee City | 49 | 40 | 9 | 2 | 100 | 866 |
|---|
East Ayrshire | 34 | 44 | 19 | 3 | 100 | 696 |
|---|
East Dunbartonshire | 19 | 45 | 29 | 7 | 100 | 553 |
|---|
East Lothian | 22 | 49 | 24 | 5 | 100 | 549 |
|---|
East Renfrewshire | 21 | 42 | 33 | 4 | 100 | 580 |
|---|
Edinburgh City | 40 | 44 | 15 | 2 | 100 | 2,509 |
|---|
Eilean Siar | 29 | 52 | 16 | 4 | 100 | 549 |
|---|
Falkirk | 30 | 45 | 21 | 4 | 100 | 824 |
|---|
Fife | 28 | 46 | 22 | 4 | 100 | 2,083 |
|---|
Glasgow City | 55 | 35 | 9 | 1 | 100 | 3,294 |
|---|
Highland | 20 | 50 | 25 | 5 | 100 | 1,167 |
|---|
Inverclyde | 43 | 39 | 16 | 3 | 100 | 554 |
|---|
Midlothian | 29 | 45 | 22 | 3 | 100 | 561 |
|---|
Moray | 19 | 52 | 25 | 4 | 100 | 613 |
|---|
North Ayrshire | 37 | 44 | 17 | 1 | 100 | 752 |
|---|
North Lanarkshire | 37 | 43 | 18 | 2 | 100 | 1,758 |
|---|
Orkney | 24 | 49 | 23 | 4 | 100 | 665 |
|---|
Perth and Kinross | 22 | 47 | 27 | 5 | 100 | 674 |
|---|
Renfrewshire | 38 | 41 | 18 | 3 | 100 | 1,000 |
|---|
Scottish Borders | 23 | 50 | 21 | 5 | 100 | 663 |
|---|
Shetland | 26 | 43 | 26 | 5 | 100 | 653 |
|---|
South Ayrshire | 29 | 45 | 23 | 3 | 100 | 624 |
|---|
South Lanarkshire | 32 | 43 | 20 | 4 | 100 | 1,587 |
|---|
Stirling | 22 | 44 | 29 | 4 | 100 | 612 |
|---|
West Dunbartonshire | 38 | 41 | 18 | 2 | 100 | 509 |
|---|
West Lothian | 26 | 47 | 22 | 5 | 100 | 885 |
|---|
Scotland | 34 | 44 | 19 | 3 | 100 | 30,822 |
|---|
Table 6.6: Number of cars household normally has available by year
Column percentages, 1999-2004 data
Households
| 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 |
|---|
None | 37.1 | 35.9 | 35.6 | 35.0 | 33.0 | 34.0 |
|---|
One | 45.0 | 45.4 | 45.5 | 44.4 | 44.6 | 43.1 |
|---|
Two | 15.4 | 16.4 | 16.4 | 18.0 | 19.5 | 19.5 |
|---|
Three or more | 2.4 | 2.3 | 2.6 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 3.4 |
|---|
Total | 100 | 100 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 |
|---|
Base | 14,680 | 15,547 | 15,566 | 15,073 | 14,880 | 15,942 |
|---|
Table 6.7: Total expenditure on fuel for cars per month by number of cars normally available for private use
Column percentages, Q2,3,4 2003/All 2004 data
Households with access to at least one car
| One | Two | Three or more | All |
|---|
£0 - £25 | 17 | 4 | 3 | 13 |
|---|
£25 - £50 | 40 | 20 | 10 | 33 |
|---|
£50 - £75 | 14 | 14 | 8 | 14 |
|---|
£75 - £100 | 18 | 25 | 20 | 20 |
|---|
£100+ | 10 | 38 | 59 | 21 |
|---|
Total | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
|---|
Base | 11,082 | 5,063 | 819 | 16,964 |
|---|
Table 6.8: Total expenditure on fuel for cars per month by urban/rural classification
Column percentages, Q2,3,4 2003/All 2004 data
Households with access to at least one car
| Large urban areas | Other urban areas | Accessible small towns | Remote small towns | Accessible rural | Remote rural | Scotland |
|---|
£0 - £25 | 15 | 12 | 11 | 20 | 9 | 11 | 13 |
|---|
£25 - £50 | 37 | 33 | 31 | 36 | 26 | 27 | 33 |
|---|
£50 - £75 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 12 | 14 | 14 |
|---|
£75 - £100 | 17 | 21 | 23 | 17 | 22 | 22 | 20 |
|---|
£100+ | 16 | 20 | 22 | 12 | 30 | 25 | 21 |
|---|
Total | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
|---|
Base | 5,160 | 4,780 | 1,980 | 754 | 2,575 | 1,715 | 16,964 |
|---|
Table 6.9: Type of driving licence (if any) held by sex
Column percentages, 2003/2004 data
Adult population aged 17 and over
| Male | Female | All |
|---|
Full driving licence | 76 | 57 | 65 |
|---|
Provisional licence | 3 | 5 | 4 |
|---|
Disqualified from driving | 1 | 0 | 0 |
|---|
Suspended on medical grounds | 1 | 1 | 1 |
|---|
Never held a UK driving licence | 16 | 36 | 27 |
|---|
Did not reapply for licence at age 70 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
|---|
Total | 100 | 100 | 100 |
|---|
Base | 12,127 | 16,376 | 28,503 |
|---|
Table 6.10: Type of driving licence (if any) held by age
Column percentages, 2003/2004 data
Adult population aged 17 and over
| 17 to 24 | 25 to 34 | 35 to 44 | 45 to 59 | 60 to 74 | 75 plus | All |
|---|
Full driving licence | 43 | 73 | 80 | 75 | 59 | 34 | 65 |
|---|
Provisional licence | 22 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
|---|
Disqualified from driving | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|---|
Suspended on medical grounds | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
|---|
Never held a UK driving licence | 35 | 19 | 16 | 22 | 36 | 48 | 27 |
|---|
Did not reapply for licence at age 70 | - | - | - | - | 2 | 13 | 2 |
|---|
Total | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
|---|
Base | 2,080 | 4,208 | 5,391 | 6,774 | 6,384 | 3,666 | 28,503 |
|---|
Table 6.11: Drivers' means of making various types of journey
Row percentages, Q2,3,4 2003/All 2004 data
Adult population with full driving licence who sometimes drive a car
| Never make that type of journey | Always use a car | Sometimes use a car | Never use a car | All | Base |
|---|
Shopping for small amounts of food | 5 | 48 | 28 | 19 | 100 | 14,507 |
|---|
Supermarket shopping | 3 | 87 | 6 | 3 | 100 | 14,507 |
|---|
Town centre shopping | 4 | 59 | 21 | 15 | 100 | 14,507 |
|---|
Leisure evenings out | 4 | 48 | 33 | 15 | 100 | 14,507 |
|---|
Visiting friends and relatives | 1 | 72 | 24 | 4 | 100 | 14,507 |
|---|
To see GP | 2 | 64 | 15 | 19 | 100 | 14,507 |
|---|
To go to library | 28 | 38 | 11 | 22 | 100 | 14,507 |
|---|
Table 6.12: Drivers who make each type of journey - percentages who always use a car by age
Cell percentages, Q2,3,4 2003/All 2004 data
Adult population with full driving licence who sometimes drive a car/van and who make each type of journey
| 16 to 24 | 25 to 34 | 35 to 44 | 45 to 59 | 60 to 74 | 75 plus | All | Base (for "All") |
|---|
Shopping for small amounts of food | 48 | 45 | 50 | 54 | 52 | 57 | 51 | 13,813 |
|---|
Supermarket shopping | 79 | 88 | 91 | 92 | 91 | 90 | 90 | 14,112 |
|---|
Town centre shopping | 52 | 56 | 64 | 65 | 62 | 62 | 62 | 13,908 |
|---|
Leisure evenings out | 39 | 38 | 46 | 53 | 63 | 63 | 50 | 13,897 |
|---|
Visiting friends and relatives | 62 | 65 | 71 | 75 | 78 | 76 | 72 | 14,365 |
|---|
To see GP | 60 | 59 | 67 | 68 | 68 | 72 | 66 | 14,230 |
|---|
To go to library | 43 | 47 | 53 | 56 | 56 | 62 | 53 | 10,551 |
|---|
Minimum base (varies with journey) | 511 | 1,796 | 2,677 | 2,964 | 2,006 | 597 | 10,551 | |
|---|
Table 6.13: Drivers who always make each type of journey by car - percentages who would find it "fairly or very difficult" without a car by urban/rural classification
Cell percentages, Q2,3,4 2003/All 2004 data
Adult population with full driving licence who always make each type of journey by car
| Large urban areas | Other urban areas | Accessible small towns | Remote small towns | Accessible rural | Remote rural | Scotland | Base (for "Scotland") |
|---|
Shopping for small amounts of food | 35 | 31 | 32 | 43 | 66 | 75 | 44 | 7,036 |
|---|
Supermarket shopping | 73 | 72 | 75 | 72 | 86 | 88 | 76 | 12,621 |
|---|
Town centre shopping | 44 | 49 | 55 | 57 | 74 | 86 | 58 | 8,712 |
|---|
Leisure evenings out | 54 | 60 | 64 | 65 | 84 | 87 | 67 | 7,092 |
|---|
Visiting friends and relatives | 74 | 71 | 75 | 74 | 85 | 88 | 76 | 10,305 |
|---|
To see GP | 47 | 45 | 40 | 47 | 75 | 80 | 54 | 9,383 |
|---|
To go to library | 42 | 39 | 39 | 50 | 73 | 83 | 52 | 5,743 |
|---|
Minimum base (varies with journey) | 1,266 | 1,595 | 495 | 256 | 1,142 | 989 | 5,743 | |
|---|