Government to measure UK happiness
How happy is the UK? The Government wants to know, and is drawing up a list of questions to ask the public. But what do you think they should be asking? Channel 4 News finds out.
In opposition, David Cameron said there was “more to life than money” and GDP figures did not show the whole picture on how the UK was faring.
And now he is in power, the Prime Minister is planning to gauge the nation’s “general wellbeing” via a regular household survey drawn up by the Office for National Statistics.
It is understood that questions are being considered for the survey currently, with plans to launch it in next spring.
Almost 30 MPs have already signed a Commons motion calling for the happiness survey – but there are some concerns that the “age of austerity” and public spending cuts could be causing undue gloom among the British public.
Are you happy?
What sorts of things do you think the Government should be asking to take your pyschological temperature? Channel 4 News gathered your responses on Facebook.
Christine Sadler suggested the Government could ask: "Do you feel positive about the future?" and Chris Talbot said: "They could ask where (if anywhere) we'd rather live than Britain."
However, if the Facebook responses are a guide, the Government ought to be prepared for a potential backlash to their attempts to check our cheer.
Tabitha Sims posted: "That's hilariously ironic. Can we ask how betrayed we feel please?" and Roger Wilson added: "How many millionaires in the cabinet does it take to make you happy?"
Sophie Kelly said: "What are they going to do if it turns out the majority are not very happy at all?!!!! Throw us a surprise party? Take us away for the weekend? Buy us a bunch of flowers?"
Sophie Kelly said: “What are they going to do if it turns out the majority are not very happy at all?!!!! Throw us a surprise party? Take us away for the weekend? Buy us a bunch of flowers?”
The plan has been an aspiration of the Prime Minister for some time.
Months after he became Conservative leader in 2005, Mr Cameron said: “It’s time we admitted there’s more to life than money, and it’s time we focused not just on GDP but on GWB – general wellbeing.”
Downing Street said there would be an announcement “reasonably soon” on how the Government planned to look into the issue.
The Liberal Democrat MP, Jo Swinson, who tabled the Commons motion, said: “This is a positive and forward-looking move by the Government, which will give us a much better idea of the health of UK society.
“Relying solely on GDP to track the nation’s progress excludes many of the things that we all know to be important, but that can’t be measured by money.
“What gets measured gets done. While it’s not government’s job to make people happy, regular measures of wellbeing will at least make sure it is taken into account.”
Is there a better way to measure happiness than money? Who Knows Who takes a look at the happiness index.