POLL BACKS MORE HOLYROOD POWERS

A majority of Scots think the Scottish Parliament should be given powers to
collect taxes and set welfare benefits, according to a survey.

The most extensive post-devolution poll of its kind found almost three
quarters of the population believe Holyrood should have more influence
north of the border than Westminster.

It reported an increase in the number of people who identify themselves as
Scottish rather than British, a rise in support for the legalisation of
cannabis and a fall in the numbers practising religion.

The poll also showed that Scots were more concerned about inequality than
their English counterparts.

"Devolution - Scottish Answers to Scottish Questions?" found almost two
thirds of the people polled, 61%, said the Scottish Parliament should set
welfare benefits while 24% believe it should remain under the remit of
Westminster.

Just over half, 51%, agreed Scotland should pay for its own services out of
taxes collected by Holyrood.

In total 74% agreed that the Scottish Parliament should have "most influence".

Commenting on the findings, Professor John Curtice of Strathclyde
University said: "There is a serious danger that devolution could wither on
the vine of public indifference.

Scottish identity

"But so far Scots' reactions to the disappointments of devolution is to
demand better devolution rather than abandon it altogether."

The study found 77% of interviewees said they were Scottish as opposed to
16% who regarded themselves as British.

By comparison, in 1979 56% said they were Scottish and 38% stressed they
were British.

A sense of being Scottish does not translate into support for independence
as only 42% of those who said they were Scottish no longer want to remain
part of the UK.

There has been a fall in the number of Scots who believe taking cannabis
should remain illegal, from 68% in 1993 to 47%.

Half of those interviewed said it should be legal - up from 30% - with most
agreeing it should only be available from licensed shops.

Of the sample, 28% admitted to having tried the drug, a figure that doubled
to 56% among the under-35s.

In contrast to the liberal views on cannabis, 89% said heroin and ecstasy
should remain illegal.

The study also found evidence that religion matters less to people today
than it did 30 years ago.

A majority, 61%, said they "never or rarely" attend a religious service
compared to 43% in 1972.

It also cast doubt on the impact of sectarianism on Scottish society with
less than a fifth of Catholics, 18%, reporting they had experienced
discrimination as a result of their religion.

The report noted religious intermarriage was increasing and that there was
little difference between Catholics and Protestants in the types of jobs
that they do.

Elsewhere pollsters found evidence of differing opinions towards the poor
in Scotland and England.

Almost half of Scots, 45%, felt unemployment benefits were "too low and
cause hardship" compared to 36% in England.

And more than two thirds, 68%, of people north of the border felt "there is
one law for the rich and one for the poor". Only 56% in England agreed.

It did find agreement over the payment of university tuition fees and the
provision of free personal care for the elderly.

"Devolution - Scottish Answers to Scottish Questions?" reports the findings
of the third Scottish Social Attitudes Survey, which was carried out by the
independent research institute NatCen Scotland.

It interviewed a random sample of 1,605 adults face to face in their homes
in the summer and autumn of 2001.