Acknowledgements
This year the 2007/2008 annual report has been produced in collaboration between the contractors, led by TNS- BMRB, and the Scottish Household Survey ( SHS) Project Team in the Scottish Government. We are grateful for the commitment of everyone involved in ensuring that the SHS makes a major contribution to informed policy-making across and beyond government.
The SHS Team guides all aspects of the survey, ensuring it continues to evolve to meet emerging needs. A major role is in promoting the dissemination of the survey findings and the use of the data within the Scottish Government and in the wider policy and research communities. This year they have also taken responsibility for final drafting and editing of the annual report. The contractors are responsible for the analyses that formed the foundation of the report and the initial drafting of all chapters.
In addition, within the Scottish Government, a number of researchers and statisticians act as Lead Analysts for the SHS in their particular policy area. They identify and maintain question areas for inclusion in the survey and identify the key areas to cover in this annual report, making sure both reflect important policy issues. They also play an active role in providing comment and direction on the report at the drafting stages. Their contribution is gratefully appreciated.
Thanks are particularly due to the 27,238 households who agreed to take part in the survey during the course of 2007/2008 and to the more than 200 interviewers from the companies who continue to show persistence and dedication in collecting the data that is presented in this report. Other operations staff within the contractor organisations also deserve thanks for the part they play in supporting the SHS process.
In spite of all this support, any errors that may remain in this report are, of course, our own.
TNS- BMRB
Pat MacLeod, Aibek Illiasov, Sian Kerr, Chris Eynon
Social Research and Consulting
Mandy Littlewood
Ipsos MORI
Steven Hope
Scottish Government
SHS Project Team, SHS Lead Analysts