Hundreds of people in Bradford will be interviewed in a pioneering survey that tracks the year-by-year impact of the recession.

Understanding Backgrounds, the largest survey of its kind in the world, got under way last year when a team started interviewing people in villages, towns and cities across the UK.

The team will visit Bradford and Leeds this month to look at the impact of the recession on the two cities and to ask residents how they feel about their job stability, prospects and the way the downturn has affected their mental health.

The researchers also aim to establish if business owners are suffering from the effects of the recession and how quickly people will overcome their financial difficulties.

The £49 million nationwide survey has been funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), an independent organisation that receives most of its funding through the Government’s Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

The research is led by the Institute for Social and Economic Research, based at the University of Essex, and will involve 100,000 people in 40,000 UK households across every walk of life.

Jeremy Neathey, director of policy and resources at the ESRC, said: “Only through surveys like this will decision makers gain a true understanding of how their policies will impact on the lives of people across the UK, vital information for shaping the strategies of the future which will benefit us all.”

But Shipley MP Philip Davies said: “My suspicion is that this survey will be an utter waste of time.

"We all know how devastating the recession is to people who have lost their jobs – they lose their confidence, their dignity and sometimes their house. We don’t need a costly survey to tell us that.

“What’s important now is how we get the economy going again and get people back into work.”

Bradford South MP Gerry Sutcliffe said the survey was worthwhile because a true picture of the problems would allow funding to be channelled into areas where it was most needed, especially education and training.

People in Bradford will receive a letter inviting them to take part. Those who agree to take part will be interviewed in their own home by a researcher and will receive a £10 shopping voucher.