Ö÷²¥´óÐã

A poll commissioned by Ö÷²¥´óÐã Scotland has placed a cut in the NHS budget as the least preferred option in a league table of possible ways to either save public cash or generate new revenue.

The poll into Scottish public spending, which was conducted by Ipsos/MORI among 1,000 Scots, suggests a cut in free bus travel is the top preference among those questioned about the options.

Between 17 and 22 September, they were asked about some of the choices the Scottish Government is expected to face in the next few months.

A league table was produced by the pollsters, compiled on the rankings of the preferred options from a selection of 10.

It showed that the most popular preference, at 31% of the relative preference score, was raising the age at which people qualify for free bus travel from 60 to 65.

The least preferred option, at number 10 in the table with a 2 per cent score, was "cut spending on the NHS in line with cuts made elsewhere".

In second place, behind the option of raising the qualifying age for free bus travel, was "'stop pay rises for two years for public sector employees, except those on low pay". That option had a 21 per cent relative preference score.

The second least popular choice, above the option to cut NHS spending, was "raise more in taxes by allowing local councils to increase council tax". That option had a score of 4 per cent.

The results of the poll will be reported in detail by political editor Brian Taylor on Ö÷²¥´óÐã Scotland news programmes, including Reporting Scotland and Good Morning Scotland, and on his .

They will also feature in The Big Cuts Debate tonight, Wednesday 13 October, at 10.45pm on Ö÷²¥´óÐã One Scotland.

Glenn Campbell hosts a studio debate with senior politicians, key figures in the public and private sectors and people who depend on public services.

He finds out what services the public values most, what kind of society people want and how much they are prepared to pay for it.

Ö÷²¥´óÐã Radio Scotland is also hosting a series of regional debates on the likely impact of the spending review throughout the week.

JG2