Census consultation: Future provision of population statistics

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is launching a three month public consultation on the census and future provision of population statistics in England and Wales today.

After each census, ONS reviews the future needs for information about the population and housing in England and Wales, and how these needs might be met.

Improvements in technology and in government data sources offer opportunities to either modernise the existing census process, or to develop an alternative census method that reuses existing data already held within government.

The ONS' research has resulted in two approaches for taking the census in future:

• a census once a decade, like that conducted in 2011, but primarily online
• a census using existing government data and compulsory annual surveys.

ONS believe that both approaches would provide annual statistics about the size of the population, nationally and for local authorities. A census using existing data and surveys would provide more statistics about the characteristics of the population every year. An online census would provide more detailed statistics once a decade.

The consultation document describes these approaches, their strengths and weaknesses and the different types of information they could provide:

http://ons.gov.uk/ons/about-ons/get-involved/consultations/consultations/beyond-2011-consultation/beyond-2011-consultation-doc-c1.pdf

No decision has yet been made, and we welcome your views. Please respond using the online questionnaire:

http://ons.gov.uk/ons/about-ons/get-involved/consultations/consultations/beyond-2011-consultation/index.html

CONTACTS

Queries relating to tables or the census in general should be addressed to: census.customerservices@ons.gov.uk.

Queries relating to boundaries/geography should be addressed to: ons.geography@ons.gov.uk

Census Research User Conference

Friday 27 September 2013

Birkbeck College, London

The first annual Census Research User Conference will be held at Birkbeck College, London, on 27 September from 9.30 – 5.30.

This one-day event will be an opportunity for data producers and research users of the census to gather and discuss data developments, research undertaken and work in progress. Presenters include the UK census offices and academic researchers.

Presentations will include:

 

· ONS Census Quality and Output plans
· ONS Census Analysis Work Programme
· Characteristics of and living arrangements amongst informal carers at the 2011 and 2001 censuses
· Using 2011 Census data to populate the Measurement Framework for equality and human rights
· Migration and population profiles of city-regions in England & Wales
· Assessing potential exposure and vulnerability to surface water flooding

Places are free but limited so booking is required. Tea and coffee will be provided in the morning and afternoon breaks, however lunch will not be provided.

 

To book a place please go to http://census.ukdataservice.ac.uk/news-and-events/eventsitem/?id=3539

Dear colleagues [on behalf of Dave Martin and Paul Norman]

Understandably, only a few of us can invest much time in following the plans for future censuses and you may therefore be unaware of recent developments. If you are a user of small area census data, please read on and act if you can - there is a real risk of losing the small area census data that you currently take for granted.

ONS are currently undertaking research on potential replacements for the conventional census in 2021. Although that seems a very long way off, recommendations need to go before parliament next year and the preparatory work is already well advanced. Based on the series of roadshows run by ONS last autumn, they have not received convincing high-value use cases for small area population attributes. Arguments such as "they are used to target local services" are not sufficiently robust to stand up to the inevitable financial scrutiny. A leading option is to derive basic age/sex data from linked administrative records and to use social survey data to obtain the types of population attributes that would previously have been obtained from the census - (ethnicity, LLTI, tenure, car ownership, employment, etc.) This would clearly not deliver small area data of the current quality, if at all.

We are urgently appealing to the research community to have your say: if no case is made, it seems entirely likely that ONS will not be able to include generation of costly small area data as part of the recommended option. If you can demonstrate high-value research (and ideally high-valued impacts!) based on small area 2001 census data, please mail David Martin and Paul Norman (d.j.martin@soton.ac.uk, p.d.norman@leeds.ac.uk)  - we need to marshall further evidence by the end of February.

Ideally, we are seeking identifiable research with an estimate of value and impact and/or an indication of why it could not be done without high quality small area data. If you can supply a paper or URL where further details could be pursued, better still. NB This is about England and Wales, although Scotland and Northern Ireland will be reviewing the same issues in due course.

If you want to find out more about Beyond 2011, see http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/about-ons/what-we-do/programmes---projects/beyond-2011/index.html Although there is not a formal consultation currently open, you can also mail them at beyond2011@ons.gsi.gov.uk

With many thanks,
David Martin, University of Southampton Email: D.J.Martin@soton.ac.uk
Paul Norman, University of Leeds Email: P.D.Norman@leeds.ac.uk

Beyond 2011 programme - National Records of Scotland public engagement events

The Beyond 2011 programme was initiated by the National Records of Scotland (NRS) to propose viable alternative options to the traditional census in Scotland. The census has long been the benchmark for capturing a comprehensive, consolidated and accurate snapshot of the population.  However, various sources indicate that the current system of providing population and key socio-demographic statistics is no longer meeting all user needs.  

The Beyond 2011 programme will produce an options paper for Scottish Government ministers, describing the work that has been completed in the research phase and detailing the options for the next phases. 

As part of this research phase, NRS need to determine what the user requirements are for producing small area population and socio-demographic statistics and would like to invite your views.  A series of public engagement events in the morning and afternoon (times to be confirmed) of the 19th and 21st February 2013 will be held at the Dome, New Register House, Edinburgh (http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/contacts/opentime/colormap.html). 

If you would like to attend or for more information please contact beyond2011@gro-scotland.gsi.gov.uk by the 21st January 2013 and state your preferred date and session. 

The Beyond 2011 programme also has a group on the Knowledge Hub which can be accessed from https://knowledgehub.local.gov.uk/group/scottishbeyond2011programmebeyond2011scotland.  Registration is required.

UK Census 2011 - second round of results released

The latest table layouts for the second release of 2011 Census tables have been added to the website. See the links below.

Key Statistics

http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/census/2011/census-data/2011-census-prospectus/release-plans-for-2011-census-statistics/second-release-of-2011-census-statistics/key-statistics--table-layouts.xls

Quick Statistics

http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/census/2011/census-data/2011-census-prospectus/release-plans-for-2011-census-statistics/second-release-of-2011-census-statistics/quick-statistics--table-layouts.xls

You may also find this link to the 2001/2011 Table Comparison helpful http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/census/2011/census-data/2011-census-prospectus/release-plans-for-2011-census-statistics/second-release-of-2011-census-statistics/table-look-up-file.xls

2011 Census homepage :-http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/census/2011/index.html

2011 Census News and Events

http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/census/2011/the-2011-census/news-and-events/index.html

UK Census 2011 First Results Released

The first results from the 2011 Census were made available today from 11am. Please see the link below for access to the estimates and supporting information: www.ons.gov.uk/census

2011 Census homepage: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/census/2011/index.html

2011 Census News and Events: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/census/2011/the-2011-census/news-and-events/index.html

Beyond 2011 Census programme

You may be aware that the UK Statistics Authority has stated that the 2011 Census is likely to be the last of its kind in the UK.

The ‘Beyond 2011’ Programme has been established by the Office for National Statistics to take a fresh look at different approaches that will meet future user needs as an alternative to running a Census in 2021. This work, which covers England and Wales, has the potential to completely change the way we produce population and socio-demographic statistics for decades to come.

If you are interested in receiving updates on the progress of the Beyond 2011 Programme, or being involved in the consultation process which will run from October to December 2011, please email beyond2011@ons.gsi.gov.uk.

Funding to investigate the feasibility of a rolling census.

ESRC and ONS are inviting applications to investigate the feasibility of implementing a Rolling Census to provide population and wider socio-demographic statistics in the UK. Further information about the proposed study is currently being advertised on the ESRC website:

http://www.esrc.ac.uk/funding-and-guidance/funding-opportunities/RCSS.aspx

Census Resources for Research

On 12 April 2011, 10.00-4.30
British Library

The event will be an introduction to using census data for UK researchers. Organised in conjunction with the ESRC Census Programme and the UK Data Archive, it will feature presentations on interaction data, samples of anonymised records, aggregate data, boundary data and the ONS Longitudinal Study.

Although the event is open to all, those who are planning to carry out academic research using census data will benefit most. It is not suitable for those interested in genealogy.

This event is free of charge. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.


To find out more and to book a place, please go to: http://www.esds.ac.uk/news/eventdetail.asp?id=2752

Introduction to census data usage

24 November, 2010
London Metropolitan University

Further information and booking form: http://www.esds.ac.uk/news/eventdetail.asp?id=2606

This one-day workshop will enable participants to gain familiarity with census data, and to put this knowledge to practical use. SARs microdata, aggregate statistics and longitidinal data will be covered in more detail and there will also be practical exercises to try.

Census SARS user meeting 2010

The SARs User Meeting will be held on Monday 8 November at the Royal Statistical Society, London.

The meeting will provide an opportunity to discuss requirements and comment on the specifications for the 2011 SARs. Sessions have been split into key topic areas and will be led by an expert in the field to encourage discussion. The Office for National Statistics will give an update on the 2011 Census and the SARs team will talk about general considerations. To view the programme and book a place please go to http://www.ccsr.ac.uk/sars/events/2010-11-08/

For SARS related resources see http://www.ccsr.ac.uk/sars/resources/

Consultation on the 2011 Census SARs

This relates to the future of the Sample of Anonymised Records, the extract of the census that is released for research purposes.

The consultation on the 2011 SARs has now begun with feedback from experts on topic and variable content. The consultation will be opened up to general users on 18 October and you will be able to give your views at http://www.ccsr.ac.uk/sars/2011/consultations/
or by emailing sars-helpdesk@manchester.ac.uk.

If you use the SARS or think you may use them in the future, please contribute to this consultation. This is particularly important if you wish the data released from the 2011 census to be comparable with data you have used for previous years.