The survey provides information about the parish as a service provider, as a focus for local democratic activity and as a watchdog for the community. It seeks to extend the information available on parish government in England today and relates theoretical concerns to parish government concerns in the area of local government, community and rural studies. Variables Number of parish council meetings in last 2 years, attendance at parish council public meetings (annual), public comment at annual parish meetings and the form this takes, topics of discussion in parish council meetings, income, expenditure, areas of growth in activity, areas of decline in parish government, future perceptions of parish government activity.