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Privatisation of Government services

13 Oct 2015

Q. Would you approve or disapprove of the Government paying private companies or not-for-profit organisations to run any of the following services?

Total approve

Total dis- approve

Strongly approve

Approve

Dis- approve

Strongly dis- approve

Don’t know

Public transport

37%

47%

9%

28%

22%

25%

17%

Prisons

33%

50%

7%

26%

23%

27%

17%

Water supply

29%

54%

8%

21%

24%

30%

17%

Ambulance service

29%

55%

9%

20%

22%

33%

16%

Hospitals

28%

56%

9%

19%

23%

33%

16%

Child welfare

27%

54%

9%

20%

24%

30%

18%

Secondary schools

27%

56%

7%

20%

25%

31%

17%

Primary schools

25%

58%

7%

18%

25%

33%

16%

Overall, respondents were more likely to disapprove of the Government paying private companies or not-for-profit organisations to run any of these services.

They were most strongly opposed to non-government organisations or companies running primary schools (58%), secondary schools (56%), hospitals (56%) and the ambulance service (55%).

The issue where opinion was most divided was public transport – with 37% approve and 47% disapprove.

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