Britain is a prosperous, confident country. The people who live here are spending more and more money on having fun because they think the good times are going to continue.

At least, that's the interpretation of big-spending Britain put on things by Mintel following their latest market research into people's attitudes.

We're splashing out a small fortune (well, actually, a large fortune) on eating out and holidays. We're upgrading our cars. We're improving our homes. We're buying digital televisions and computers galore.

Some of us are also diverting some cash into paying off our debts, but others are continuing to borrow (largely to fund house-buying) with the average personal debt now up to £10,000.

We're on a roll, according to Mintel. There is now "solid confidence" among consumers in Britain, helped by an average household income of over £30,000.

If you believe this survey, we've reach the promised land. Harold Macmillan told us we had never had it so good in the 1950s. Well, now we're having it even better. But little niggles keep casting a shadow over this glowing picture of British life. If we're doing so well, how come patients have to lie on trolleys in hospital corridors for many hours at a time? How come people die before they get to the top of the waiting list for operations, or because their operation has been cancelled?

How come old people can't get the welfare support they need to enable them to live in dignity and comfort in their own homes? How come there aren't enough staff or books to educate many of our youngsters properly?

How come the police can't give the public the protection they need against petty crime, and the welfare services can't keep vulnerable children from coming to harm? How come the shelves in public libraries aren't as full as they used to be, more and more street lights are out, public lavatories are either closed down or filthy, streets are strewn with litter and shop doorways are cluttered with the bedding of the homeless?

This is a country in which there is plenty of private affluence (though not enjoyed by everyone, by any means) and an increasing amount of public squalor.

If we're as well off as the Mintel survey suggests we are, should we not be handing over more in taxes specifically to care for the old and infirm and the sick, to educate the young, to protect the citizens against criminals and yobs, to improve the quality of life for everyone in our towns, cities, suburbs and villages?

While we're splashing out on expensive treats for ourselves, more and more holes are appearing in the safety net which was designed to offer protection if, for any reason, the good times stopped rolling for any of us.

Of course, these surveys are open to various interpretations. Mintel see the results as a sign of confidence.

But could it not be the very opposite? Might people in fact be so uncertain of what the future might hold that they're determined to have a good time today, and hang the consequences?

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.