Study title

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.

The principal aim of the research was to test and further refine the hypothesis that the divisions so apparent on Europe, especially within British political parties, are most pronounced along fault lines defined by disagreements over the importance of either maintaining national sovereignty, or of embracing an increasing interdependence with our European partners. The researchers wanted to examine if such a hypothesis would hold for the newly created 'subnational' institutions in Scotland and Wales with nationalist parties putatively positively bubbling with enthusiasm for European integration. Indeed, the received wisdom is one of both nations having a greater enthusiasm for Europe than that found at Westminster. Thus, such an enquiry would contribute to knowledge and understanding of the ideological configuration of Welsh and Scottish Parliamentarians over the European issue and further add to existing empirical data and knowledge on attitudes of Westminster parliamentarians.

Main Topics:

Each case in the data file is either a Scottish Member of Parliament (MSP) or a member of the National Assembly of Wales (AM). The file includes their responses to the questions on European Integration from a postal questionnaire. Topics covered include attitudes to the European Union and single European currency, political system preferences, sovereignty, representation of country's interests, funding, social issues and costs, taxation, legislation, defence, agriculture and devolved government.

Standard Measures
Likert scales were used.