5. Conclusions
5.1 This report has shown some substantial changes in public perceptions of government in Scotland in the one year period from 2006 to 2007. In particular, trust in the Scottish Executive to act in Scotland's best interests and to make fair decisions, the beliefs that having a Scottish Parliament gives ordinary people more say and strengthens Scotland's voice in the UK and, to a slightly lesser extent, the belief that the Scottish Executive listens to people's views before taking decisions all increased in the period following the 2007 election. At the same time, trust in the UK government also appears to have increased between 2006 and 2007.
5.2 In general, these changes in perceptions of the Scottish Executive appear to have occurred across most groups of people in Scotland - men and women, older and younger people, people in rural and urban and deprived and affluent areas, etc. However, it is notable that the increase in trust in the Scottish Executive between 2006 and 2007 was particularly pronounced among those with no qualifications and, to a lesser extent, among tabloid readers - both groups who had been less trusting in previous years. Moreover, while unsurprisingly the biggest changes in perceptions of government were apparent among those who identify with the SNP, shifts were also evident among supporters of other political parties and those with no party-political affiliation.
5.3 Given the context of the 2007 survey, which took place after several dramatic changes to the political landscape in both Scotland and the UK, assessing the long-term implications of these findings is difficult. Fieldwork took place too soon after the election for public attitudes to reflect the impact of the new administrations policies, and it may be that (as in 1999) these findings are more a reflection of aspirations for the new government than an assessment of actual performance. Only future years of data will allow us to interpret whether these findings are simply a post election 'bounce' or the start of a more significant change in public attitudes to government in Scotland.