Monday 02 September 2002
People living in Scotland are the most neighbourly people in Great Britain while Londoners are the least likely to know the names of people living next to them. According to a MORI survey of over 2,000 adults in the UK, commissioned by the BBC for the programme A Land Worth Loving, the Scots can name 15 of their neighbours on average, while Londoners only manage five.
The survey revealed that two in five Britons can only name between one and five of their neighbours, while half (48%) can not name more than five. It also revealed that one in 10 people live more than 150 miles away from their closest relatives.
The survey, which centred on quality of life issues in Britain, reveals that if money were no object, three out of every five Britons would prefer to live in the countryside. It also showed that, given the choice, nearly half (46%) of the working population would prefer to work fewer hours than receive a pay rise.
Topline Results
MORI interviewed a representative sample of 2,056 British adults aged 16+, between 14-19 February 2002 across 196 sample points. Interviews were conducted face-to-face in respondents homes using Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI). The data were weighted to reflect the known national profile.
Q1 In how many of the households that surround you, do you know the inhabitants by name?
| | % |
|---|
| 1-2 households | 16 |
| 3-4 households | 17 |
| 5 households | 8 |
| 6-10 households | 28 |
| 11-15 households | 11 |
| 16-20 households | 7 |
| 21+ households | 7 |
| None | 7 |
| |
| Mean score | 9.4 |
Q2 How far would you travel if you were to visit your blood relatives who live closest to you? Please exclude any blood relatives who live in your household.
| | % |
|---|
| Same or adjacent streets / roads | 15 |
| In the same town / city / village | 34 |
| (not one of the above) but within 25 miles | 21 |
| (not one of the above) but within 26-50 miles | 7 |
| (not one of the above) but within 51-100 miles | 6 |
| (not one of the above) but within 101-150 miles | 6 |
| Further afield | 10 |
| Don't know | 2 |
Q3 In an average week, approximately how many individual journeys do you make in a car as a passenger or a driver that are less than a mile long? There and back counts as two journeys which would be one mile each way.
| | % |
|---|
| 1-2 journeys | 17 |
| 3-4 journeys | 9 |
| 5 journeys | 3 |
| 6-10 journeys | 10 |
| 11-20 journeys | 5 |
| More than 20 journeys | 2 |
| None | 53 |
| |
| Mean score | 3.21 |
Q4 Which, if any, of the following apply to you?
I am the parent or legal guardian of …
| | % |
|---|
| … a child / children under the age of 16 who does / do live with me | 29 |
| … a child / children aged under 16 who does not / do not live with me and to whose upbringing I contribute financially | 2 |
| … a child / children aged under 16 who does not / do not live me and to whose upbringing I do not contribute financially | 1 |
| … a child / children aged 16 to 19 who is/are currently in full time education | 4 |
| I am not a parent | 22 |
| None of the above | 44 |
Q5 In an average term-time week day, approximately how many waking hours do you usually spend in the presence of your children?
Base: All with children in household under 16 (651)
| | % |
|---|
| 1-2 hours | 2 |
| 3-4 hours | 17 |
| 5 hours | 15 |
| 6-8 hours | 30 |
| 9-12 hours | 16 |
| 13-20 hours | 11 |
| More than 20 | 4 |
| None | 1 |
| |
| Mean score | 7.76 |
Q6 In an average term-time weekend day, approximately how many waking hours do you usually spend in the presence of your children?
Base: All with children in household under 16 (651)
| | % |
|---|
| 1-2 hours | 3 |
| 3-4 hours | 4 |
| 5 hours | 3 |
| 6-8 hours | 16 |
| 9-12 hours | 38 |
| 13-20 hours | 28 |
| More than 20 | 6 |
| None | 2 |
| |
| Mean score | 11.52 |
Q7 If you had the choice, would you prefer to?
| | % |
|---|
| Get paid more for your present job or | 54 |
| Get paid the same for your present job but work fewer hours | 46 |
Q8 Which two or three things from the following list, do you think would add most to the quality of your life? Which others?
| | % |
|---|
| Better health | 37 |
| Generally having more time to do the things I want | 34 |
| A salary rise or bonus | 32 |
| Achieving a better work / life balance | 19 |
| Improved social life | 17 |
| Taking up a new hobby or interest | 17 |
| Improved accommodation | 14 |
| Passing an exam or completing a course of study | 14 |
| Moving to the countryside | 13 |
| Improved physical appearance (e.g. smaller nose, being slimmer) | 11 |
| A new or improved relationship | 7 |
| A promotion | 6 |
| None of these | 7 |
Q9 If money were no object, would you prefer to?
| | % |
|---|
| Live in the countryside | 61 |
| Live in a town or city | 39 |