ONS International Migration Statistics User Guide

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has recently published an "International Migration Statistics First Time User Guide". The guide is designed as a short introduction to the key concepts which underpin migration statistics, and to provide information on the range of data sources/statistics related to international migration which are available. The guide is aimed at people who are new to using migration statistics.

The guide can be found on the ONS Migration theme page (in the 'Behind the Scenes' section) or can be accessed from the following link:

http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/external-links/other/international-migration-stats-first-time-user-guide.html

ONS would welcome any comments on the first time user guide, which should be sent to migstatsunit@ons.gov.uk .

ONS Workshop: International Migration and the 2011 Census

A workshop hosted by the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford.

Date: Monday 25 February 2013
Time: 13:45-14.45
Place: Dahrendorf Seminar Room, St. Antony’s College Oxford

Speakers:
Emma Wright
Head of Population Analysis, UK Office for National Statistics

Peter Stokes
Census Statistical Design Manager, UK Office for National Statistics

For more information about the workshop please contact carlos.vargas-silva@compas.ox.ac.uk, 01865 284975.

All are welcome to attend but spaces are limited, so please RSVP to lindsey.robinson@compas.ox.ac.uk.

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.

Manchester Statistical Society Meeting: The Quality of Data

The quality of data in Britain

 

Tuesday 15 January 2013 at 5.30pm (refreshments available from 5.15pm)

Jil Matheson

National Statistician, Head of the Government Statistical Service & Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority

Manchester Statistical Society

Questioning Social & Economic Issues

 President: Dr Philip Lund

http://www.manstatsoc.org/

Britain has a rich history of data that has been used to inform and influence public debate for many years. Our views around what we mean by ‘quality’ have been built on this tradition of data. But with mountains of data now being generated every day, are our traditional measures of quality still the right ones to use? The public increasingly only sees statistics through the media - so how can they know the quality of what they see, and how does this affect their trust in statistics? Statisticians need to consider where we fit in to this new world of data and how we respond to the challenges that it presents us.

 

Jil Matheson was appointed National Statistician, Head of the Government Statistical Service and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority in September 2009.

The meeting will be held at the Manchester Cathedral Visitor Centre, 10 Cateaton Street, Manchester M3 1SQ, starting at 5.30 and ending about 7pm.

Please notify your intention to attend by Friday 11 January 2013 at the latest. Bookings received after this date may not be accepted.

Please send an email to brian.robson@manchester.ac.uk if you are likely to attend.

IInforming Voluntary Sector Research: How can official statistics be improved?

Tuesday 15th January 2013
5pm, at the Royal Statistical Society (12 Errol Street, London, EC1Y 8LX)
Tea/coffee available from 4.30

The voluntary sector already plays a significant part in our society and the sector is being asked to play a greater role in public service delivery, such as education, justice and health. To do its job well, the voluntary sector needs statistics: to help it frame the subject it is addressing; to use in bids for resources; to help allocate resources, monitor performance and assess impact. Many larger voluntary sector organisations produce their own statistics, but they and others also rely on statistics from government. This event provides the opportunity for researchers and statisticians to feed into discussions about the adequacy of current statistics and engagement between the voluntary sector and government statisticians, and to hear about the Community Life Survey and recent research into the knowledge and skills of the voluntary sector, in terms of handling data analysis, risk and evaluation.

•             Representatives of voluntary sector users and official statistics producers will discuss the adequacy of current statistics and engagement between the voluntary sector and producers of official statistics, and ideas for improvement. To be followed by audience discussion / Q&A.

•             Update on progress with the Community Life survey - Rebecca Wyton, Office for Civil Society.

•             Data Capacity in the Voluntary Sector - David Walker, Getstats Director, RSS.

Attendance is free and open to all, but pre-registration is recommended. To register for the meeting, please email events@rss.org.uk.  For a map and directions, see www.rss.org.uk/findus. For further information, contact Jouni Kuha at j.kuha@lse.ac.uk.

Crime surveys user meeting

Thursday 13 December 2012
Royal Statistical Society, London

This meeting will provide a forum for data users and producers to meet and discuss new developments and exchange information about the UK crime surveys.

The meeting is free to attend and lunch will be provided. To view the programme and book a place please go to www.ccsr.ac.uk/esds/events/2012-12-13/

The Changing Shape of UK Business: An event to promote the use and understanding of business statistics

As part of the Office for National Statistics' drive to promote the use and understanding of business statistics, the Office for National Statistics and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills are jointly coordinating an event:
The Changing Shape of UK Business

Understanding the structure, content and performance of UK business

The event is an opportunity producers of business statistics, to engage with a wide range of stakeholders. The event will be opened by Andrew Dilnot CBE, Chair of the UK Statistics Authority, and former Director of the Institute of Fiscal Studies. It will feature a range of talks from users, producers and suppliers of business statistics, not just from central government and the Devolved Administrations, but also local government, business representatives and researchers. The event will also include a  session to discuss the priorities for users and producers of business statistics over the next few years.

The objectives of the event are to:

• share what we know about the structure, content and performance of UK business;
• raise awareness of the importance and coverage of our statistics;
• hear from users about the range of uses to which our statistics are put; and
• discuss future plans and priorities with a range of users.

Venue and date

The all-day event will take place at the St Giles Hotel, central London, on Tuesday 6 November 2012.

Presentations

The organisers are hoping to bring together a collection of speakers from a range of backgrounds in order to share and learn from one another's experiences of using business statistics in different contexts.

Therefore they are calling for presentations on users experiences using business statistics  - for example, what statistics you use, how you use them, and what decisions or research are informed by them. Presentation slots will be 20 minutes, which will include some time for questions, and the organisers are more than happy to discuss proposed talks.

The deadline for submission of abstracts is Tuesday 11 September 2012, and the deadline to receive presentations will be Tuesday 23 October 2012. Please send abstracts to Katy Nicholls, katy.nicholls@ons.gsi.gov.uk .

Registration

Please visit event web page to download the registration form and to find more information on the agenda and logistical arrangements: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/media-centre/events/the-changing-shape-of-uk-businesses/index.html.

The deadline for registration is Friday 12 October 2012. There will be no charge for attendees at this event, but please note that numbers are limited.

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

Intergrated Household Survey Consultation

In light of the diminishing sample size of the Integrated Household Survey and subsequent loss of statistical precision for Sexual Identity estimates at the Local Authority level, ONS is asking for feedback from IHS data users on this proposal for the future of the IHS datasets.

ONS do not believe quarterly annual IHS datasets, comprising only the Annual Population Survey and the Living Costs and Food Survey, provide value for money and propose to reduce the IHS to one annual dataset per year – based on the January to December fieldwork period.

The last quarterly dataset ONS is planning to produce will be the April 2011 to March 2012 dataset, which will comprise four quarters of APS and LCF and only three quarters of GLF. This experimental dataset is due to be released in September 2012, with its associated Statistical Bulletin. The next dataset will be the January to December 2012 dataset, due to be released in June 2013. This means that datasets Jul11-Jun12 and Oct11-Sep12 will be omitted from production and delivery.

ONS are interested in IHS data users' views on this proposal and would appreciate feedback by the end of October 2012, using the email addresses below: 

caroline.jones@ons.gsi.gov.uk
dean.fletcher@ons.gsi.gov.uk
simon.woodsford@ons.gsi.gov.uk

Conference of the Migration Statistics User Forum

18th September 2012
Home Office HQ, 2 Marsham Street, London SWIP 4DF

The Migration Statistics User Forum is holding a conference on 18 September in partnership with the Home Office.  Details of the event are now available, including a draft programme and details of how to book a place. These can be viewed at www.rss.org.uk/migration-statistics.

This conference is open to all those with an interest in migration statistics and there is no charge for this event but pre-registration is essential. Please email MigrationStatsEnquiries@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk if you have any questions not answered at the above conference details webpage.

This day conference has been designed to appeal to a wide range of users of international migration statistics and relates to the Migration Statistics User Forum’s aim to provide a forum where users and producers can discuss the need, presentation and use of data on migration.

The conference programme has speakers from Home Office Statistics, the Office for National Statistics and users of the statistics. The day is also designed to allow lots of scope for discussion and questioning. Details of the draft programme are contained in the above weblink.

DwB Training Course: Working with data from official statistics in Europe, particularly the European Labour Force Survey

The Data without Boundaries project is organising its first training course which will be hosted by GESIS, Mannheim, Germany, between 18 July 2012 and 20 July 2012.

As well as highlighting the legal and administrative aspects of data access, the course will demonstrate the possibilities of the EU-LFS in a hands-on computer session which will explore the potential for both international as well as longitudinal analysis. A basic understanding of multivariate statistical methods and SPSS/Stata will be required.

The course will consist of three parts:
- Part I: Overview of European Data from Official Statistics
- Part II: The EU-LFS: Content, Documentation, Data Structure, Analysis
- Part III: Accessing Confidential National Microdata

There is no attendance fee to the course, but participants will have to cover their own expences for travel and accomodation.

Interested post-graduate and senior researchers should send a short application letter (max. 500 words) explaining their motivation to 1st-dwb-training@gesis.org

Deadline for application: 15 June 2012.

For further information on the course: http://dwbproject.org/events/tc1.html

Announcement of DwB course (pdf, 107 Ko): http://dwbproject.org/export/sites/default/events/doc/first_dwb_training.pdf

Contact person: christof.wolf@gesis.org

Final Reports from the Migration Statistics Improvement Programme

Five final reports were published on Tuesday 27th March and can be found on the MSIP latest news page:

http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/method-quality/imps/latest-news/index.html

1. Migration Statistics Improvement Programme Final Report

In April 2008, the Office for National Statistics established the Migration Statistics Improvement Programme. This report describes why the programme was created, the outputs that have been delivered and the benefits that have been achieved or will be achieved as a result of the Programme.

2. A Conceptual Framework for Population and Migration Statistics

Reporting on the conceptual framework for UK population and migration statistics which will underpin the development of population and migration statistics in the future, and will facilitate communication between users and providers.

3. Using administrative data to set plausibility ranges for population estimates in England and Wales

Reporting on the approaches and data sources used for setting plausibility ranges for population estimates. Administrative sources are combined to set an upper and lower limit within which population estimates might reasonably be expected to fall.

4. Strategy for Delivering Statistical Benefits from e-Borders

This report describes the relevance of e-Borders to migration statistics and explains how the work will be taken forward over the next few years.

5. Research Report: Uncertainty in Local Authority Mid Year Population Estimates

Describes the methodology used to develop Quality Indicators for Population Estimates which are published alongside the report for each local authority in England and Wales. The report also describes the methodology to develop a Statistical Measure of Uncertainty for each local authority which will be published later in 2012.

March 2012 Road Shows:

If you are interested in viewing the presentation slides from these road shows, they are now available at: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/method-quality/imps/msi-programme/communication/msip-seminars-2012/seminars-presentation/index.html

A report summarising feedback from the March road shows will be published later in the year once the responses have been collated.

Future Contact: The IMPS mail box will continue to be available for feedback on aspects of the MSIP programme or have questions for the ongoing research team relating to the programme: IMPS@ons.gsi.gov.uk

Measuring National Well-being

A joint meeting of the Official Statistics and Social Statistics Sections will take place on

8th March 2012 at 5pm with tea/coffee from 4.30pm, at the RSS, 12 Errol Street EC1Y 8LX

Speakers

Paul Allin, Director: Measuring National Well-being (MNW) programme, Office for National Statistics

Charles Seaford, Head of the Centre for Well-being, New Economics Foundation, will respond as a discussant.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) Measuring National Well-being (MNW) programme aims to develop and publish an accepted and trusted set of National Statistics to understand and monitor well-being.

The programme was launched in November 2010 with a national debate on ‘What matters to you?’ to improve understanding of what should be included in measures of the nation’s well-being. Further information on the programme is at http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/user-guidance/well-being/index.html

ONS has been undertaking  a consultation seeking views on a proposed set of domains (aspects of national well-being) and headline indicators which were outlined in the discussion paper “Measuring National Well-being - Discussion paper on domains and measures” (31 October 2011). The domains and indicators were developed from responses to the national debate, research into well-being and international initiatives.

In addition, ONS have recently released initial experimental results looking at individuals assessments of their own well-being, collected via ONS’s Opinions survey.

Attendance is free and open to all, but pre-registration is recommended. You can register by email meetings@rss.org.uk or by phone (020) 7638 8998. 
For further information about the meeting contact Charles Lound or David Matz (charles.lound@ons.gsi.gov.uk or david.matz@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk)

British Crime Survey Consultation - Intimate Personal Violence questions

Last year the Home Office ran a split sample experiment to trial an alternative wording of questions relating to intimate personal violence (IPV). Results and analysis of the experiment can be found in the Home Office publication “Analysis of the 2010/11 British Crime Survey intimate personal violence split-sample experiment” available on the Home Office Website: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/crime-research/analysis-bcs-ipv-2011

The Home Office is currently in the process of a consultation regarding whether to proceed with the new questions, which seem to give us higher affirmative response rates, or the old questions, which would provide us with a longer term time series comparison.

Should you have any response to this consultation, please read the above linked document and pass your comments along with some details of your background interest to ravi.mulchandani@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk.

Child Benefit National and Official Statistics publications Consultation - two weeks left

HM Revenue & Customs is carrying out a formal review of their Child Benefit National and Official Statistics publications (http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/child_benefit/menu.htm ). HMRC are carrying out the consultation to ensure the scope, format and content of their statistics remain suitable for the needs of users.


The survey can be found here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/child_benefit

HMRC would be grateful if you could spend 5-10 minutes of your time to provide them with the information above by completing the short questionnaire. The results will be published but all results and all views will be completely anonymous. The deadline for reply is 30th September.

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.

2011 Census design workshops

To date, consultations on the design of 2011 Census Outputs have concentrated on the main statistical series of outputs. The 2011 Census design team are now planning to hold four workshops on more specialised products and services. These are:

Small populations - 24th October 2011
Analytical products - 25th October 2011
Origin and Destination outputs - 26th October 2011
Microdata - 14th November 2011

For more information, or if you interested in attending one or more of the events, please see:

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

Alternatively you can email: census.customerservices@ons.gsi.gov.uk

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

Consultation on Tax Credits and HMRC Official Statistics

HM Revenue & Customs are carrying out a formal review of our Tax Credits National and Official Statistics publications (http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/menu.htm).


Your views will enable HMRC to evaluate whether any changes are needed to their publications. They would like to know if other information would be useful to their users that is not currently available, or whether there are any areas of the statistics which you feel are irrelevant. There may also be issues with the format of the tables that need to be addressed, or presentational amendments that could be useful.

The survey can be found here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/tax_credits

The survey should take 5-10 minutes of your time. The results will be published but all results and all views will be completely anonymous. The deadline for reply is 31st August.