The annual survey, which has run since 199, provides detailed national and local authority level data on people in Scotland.

It is used as a unique source of essential trend data and evidence for a wide range of policy areas including housing, transport, local government services, health and physical activity, neighbourhoods and communities, the local environment and sport and culture.

Unveiled as part of Scotland’s Spending Plans and Budget for 2016/17, the level of savings sought will require significant changes to the design of the SHS, the government said.

Users and stakeholders’ views are being sought on two alternative options:

Option A

Biennial topics, i.e. halving the number of topics covered by the survey every year and collecting data on each topic every second year, with a small reduction in sample size (from 10,700 to 10,100).

Option B

Reduction of the overall survey sample size by around a third, from 10,700 to 7,450, with a small reduction in topics covered by the survey.

Respondents’ views will also be used to inform the design of SHS 2018-2021.

Respond online here