Health is poorer in more deprived areas

The findings are contained in the first Scottish Social Statistics, which have been published by the Scottish Executive.

Analysis over the period 1991-95 showed that the survival rate for lung cancer was worse among the 20% of the population living in the most deprived areas.

While 61% of people from high income areas considered themselves to be in good health, that figure fell to 45% among those living in poor council estates.

The rate of teenage pregnancy for girls aged 13 to 15 was also more than six times higher in deprived areas than in the wealthiest areas.

Transport costs

Only 33% of householders living in council flats had a car compared to 88% of households in high income areas.

The study says that public transport fares are rising faster than the costs of motoring, making it harder for people to get to increasingly centralised services.

The 176-page report says current car growth is unsustainable, and highlights its environmental as well as social impact.

However, it also found that 68% of people living in Scotland saw themselves as either "more Scottish than British" or "Scottish not British".

More user friendly

It also suggested that about 75% of people living in Scotland would rather live there than anywhere else in the world.

The report, which contains data on subjects ranging from social attitudes to crime and the environment, is available on the Scottish Executive's website.

It replaces the old Abstract of Scottish Statistics report and is designed to be far more user friendly.

The report draws on information from a range of sources to give an overview of current social issues, including data from the executive, the General Register Office for Scotland and the Department for Social Security.