Issues Index

Crime has risen to the top of Ipsos's Issues Index in August 2008, with almost half of British adults saying it is one of the most important issues facing Britain (47%). This is an increase of eight percentage points since July.

The economy is the now most important issue facing Britain today, according to July's Ipsos Issues Index, with four in ten people thinking it is important (42%).

Ipsos's recent survey for Schott's Almanac, conducted by telephone among 1,049 British adults age 16 and over between 18-20 July, explores a range of issues around the public's fears, uncertainties and doubts about the future.

Ipsos's latest Issues Index shows that public concern about inflation and prices is the highest recorded by Ipsos since the early 1990s.

Q What would you say is the most important issue facing Britain today?
Q What do you see as other important issues facing Britain today?
(Unprompted - combined answers)

More than four in five patients are confident in their doctor, but this confidence is directly correlated with the doctor's ability to provide adequate information, according to surveys commissioned by the General Medical Council (GMC) from MORI and NOP World.

The majority of British people think that Space should be a neutral place with no military uses and believe the US is more interested in the military potential of space than putting a person on Mars, according to new research conducted by MORI. It also shows support for the missions such as Beagle 2 and finding life on other planets.

Immigration/asylum is now the third most important issue facing Britain today, ahead of defence, crime/law and order and the economy. Only the NHS and education are seen as more pressing.

France is considered Britain's least reliable ally by more than half of British people, according to the 'State of Britain Survey 2003' — published today by the MORI Social Research Institute on behalf of the Financial Times.