Scottish Government Long Term Survey Strategy (LTSS) – Summary Version

Executive Summary

This strategy sets out the direction for modernising Scottish Government population surveys to achieve our vision of:

Modern, user-centred Government surveys collect the right evidence to support decision-making and deliver outcomes for people.

The Long Term Survey Strategy (LTSS) provides a refreshed, future‑focused direction to guide the evolution of Scottish Government (SG) population surveys in response to the pressures facing survey research globally – including rising costs, declining response rates, tightening budgets and increasing demand for more timely and granular data.

This document provides a high-level summary of the Scottish Government’s Long Term Survey Strategy, with a more detailed working version supporting internal planning and delivery.

By modernising survey approaches, placing users and respondents at the centre of design and strengthening integration with administrative and census data, the strategy aims to ensure that Scotland’s population surveys remain fit for purpose, analytically robust and capable of supporting evidence‑based policymaking.

The LTSS is built around four pillars:

Survey Rationalisation – focusing on purpose by identifying where surveys are essential and where administrative data can replace survey‑collected variables.

User‑Centred Design – ensuring surveys are accessible, engaging and designed around the needs of both data users and respondents.

Modernisation and Future‑Proofing – adopting flexible, robust methodological approaches, including mixed‑mode data collection and strategies to mitigate nonresponse.

Integrated Data Approach – improving efficiency, reducing burden and strengthening quality by linking survey, administrative and census data.

These pillars are supported by enabling themes that emphasise coordination, knowledge‑sharing and recognition of surveys as essential analytical infrastructure. Together, they set a strategic path toward a more resilient, coherent and value‑driven survey system that reflects Scotland’s analytical ambitions and serves the needs of policymakers, public services and communities.