Prepared For: BBC

Prepared By: Millward Brown Ulster Limited

44102643

PUBLIC OPINION POLL

GOVERNMENT SPENDING CUTSOCTOBER 2010

Total sample of n=1,029 respondents

Sample is fully representative of the Northern Ireland adult (16+) population in terms of age, sex, socio-economic grouping, area and religion

All fieldwork conducted face-to-face by members of the Millward Brown Ulster interviewing panel

Fieldwork was conducted between 23rd September to 4th October 2010

All research complies fully with the Market Research Society ethical Code of Conduct, and to MRQSA ISO 20252 accreditation

Background and methodology

Do you agree or disagree that public spending cuts are necessary to deal with the current economic situation? (Base: All adults n=1,029 , chart excludes 7% don’t know)

Agreement regarding the necessity for spending cuts

Strongly agree

Agree

Neither agree nor disagree

Disagree

Strongly disagree

Don’t know

All

Do you agree or disagree that public spending cuts are necessary to deal with the current economic situation? (Base: All adults n=1,029)

Agreement regarding the necessity for spending cuts by demographics

16-24 25-34 35-49 50-64 65+ ABC1 C2 DE Protestant Catholic

AGE SOCIO-ECONOMIC GROUP RELIGION

7% 15% 8% 7% 5% 4% 6% 6% 10% 5% 10%

As a result of the proposed government spending cuts, how concerned or otherwise are you that you, or someone in your household, could become unemployed? (Base: All economically active n=780, chart excludes 4% don’t know)

Concerns for potential unemployment within household

Very concerned

Fairly concerned

Not particularly concerned

Not at all concerned

Don’t know

All

As a result of the proposed government spending cuts, how concerned or otherwise are you that you, or someone in your household, could become unemployed? (Base: All economically active n=780)

16-24 25-34 35-49 50-64 65+ ABC1 C2 DE Protestant Catholic

AGESOCIO-ECONOMIC

GROUP RELIGION

Concerns for potential unemployment within household by demographics

Male Female

4% 4% 3% 10% 3% 2% - 3% 4% 4% 3% 3% 3%

GENDER

Would you be prepared to pay water charges from next year, to help protect front line services from bigger cuts? (Base: All adults n=1,029)

Willingness to pay water charges to help protect front line services

Yes

No

Don’t know

All

Would you be prepared to pay water charges from next year, to help protect front line services from bigger cuts? (Base: All adults n=1,029)

16-24 25-34 35-49 50-64 65+ ABC1 C2 DE Protestant Catholic

AGE SOCIO-ECONOMIC GROUP

RELIGION

Male Female

Willingness to pay water charges to help protect front line services by demographics

Gtr. Belfast

Rest of NI

GENDER AREA

12% 9% 15% 19% 12% 11% 11% 9% 13% 11% 12% 12% 12% 11% 13%

If one government department could be protected from spending cuts in Northern Ireland, which, if any, of the following do you think it should be? (Base: All adults n=1,029)

Government departments that should be protected from spending cuts

If one government department could be protected from spending cuts in Northern Ireland, which, if any, of the following do you think it should be? (Base: All adults n=1,029)

Government departments that should be protected from spending cuts by demographics

When considering public expenditure cuts, do you expect that members of the Stormont Executive will make decisions in the interests of their parties or in the interests of NI as a whole? (Base

All adults n=1,029)

How will members of the Stormont Executive make decisions on spending cuts

In the interests of

Northern Ireland as a

whole

In the interests of

their parties

Don’t know

All

When considering public expenditure cuts, do you expect that members of the Stormont Executive will make decisions in the interests of their parties or in the interests of NI as a whole? (Base : All

adults n=1,029)

16-24 25-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Protestant Catholic

AGE RELIGIONMale Female

GENDER

How will members of the Stormont Executive make decisions on spending cuts by demographics

14% 12% 15% 26% 12% 10% 12% 12% 9% 18%