Following the 1997 review, the survey was re-launched from April 2000 with a different design. The relevant development work and the changes made are described in the report of the 2000 survey.

The GHS now consists of two elements: the Continuous Survey and Trailers. The Continuous Survey is to remain unchanged for the five-year period April 2000-March 2005, apart from essential changes to take account of, for example, changes in benefits and pensions. It consists of a household questionnaire, to be answered by the Household Reference Person (see Appendix A) or spouse, and an individual questionnaire to be completed by all adults aged 16 and over resident in the household. The household questionnaire covers the following topics:

• demographic information about household members
• household and family information
• household accommodation
• housing tenure
• consumer durables including vehicle ownership
• migration.

The individual questionnaire includes sections on:

• employment
• pensions
• education
• health and use of health services
• smoking
• drinking in the last seven days
• family information including marriage, cohabitation and fertility history
• income.

The GHS has retained its modular structure, which allows a number of trailers to be included each year to a plan agreed by sponsoring Departments. The trailers included in 2001/2 survey were:

• people aged 65 and over
• mobility aids
• usual alcohol consumption in the last 12 months.