Asked by: Lord Freyberg (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Transformed Labour Force Survey records secondary occupations or ongoing professional identities when someone has more than one type of work; and what assessment they have made of how recording only a person’s main job may affect sectors where many people have portfolio careers, such as crafts and the visual arts.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
Please see the letter attached from the Permanent Secretary for the Office of National Statistics.
The Rt Hon. the Lord Freybeg
House of Lords
London
SW1A 0PW
02 March 2026
Dear Lord Freyberg
As Permanent Secretary of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I am responding to your Parliamentary Question asking whether the Transformed Labour Force Survey (TLFS) records secondary occupations or ongoing professional identities when someone has more than one type of work; and what assessment they have made of how recording only a person’s main job may affect sectors where many people have portfolio careers, such as crafts and the visual arts (HL14678).
The TLFS does collect information on a respondent’s secondary occupation. Where the respondent has a portfolio career such as those mentioned, they can self-determine this as their main or second job. The data collected includes for example, whether this is in an employed or self-employed capacity, the hours usually and actually worked, the pay received and the industry and occupation code of the position. This data is used for a variety of statistical, legislative and policy purposes by a broad range of stakeholders.
Information is collected for up to two jobs. There has previously been a question as to whether information on more than two jobs should be collected. However, there must be a careful balance achieved between data users need, and the respondent burden caused by survey length. While we are not currently in a position to capture more than two jobs, this issue will be thoroughly explored within future developments of the TLFS.
The TLFS also collects data on casual working roles so that those in more informal situations are also captured.
Yours sincerely,
Darren Tierney
Asked by: Lord Freyberg (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Livermore on 17 February (HL14181), whether Office for National Statistics has assessed the feasibility and statistical acceptability of aggregating multiple Standard Occupational Classification codes that individually fall below publication thresholds into higher-level sector groupings for publication purposes; and if so, what conclusions were reached.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
Please see the letter attached from the Permanent Secretary for the Office of National Statistics.
The Rt Hon. the Lord Freybeg
House of Lords
London
SW1A 0PW
02 March 2026
Dear Lord Freyberg,
As Permanent Secretary of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I am responding to your Parliamentary Question asking a) further to the Written Answer by Lord Livermore on 17 February (HL14181), whether the Office for National Statistics has assessed the feasibility and statistical acceptability of aggregating multiple Standard Occupational Classification codes that individually fall below publication thresholds into higher-level sector groupings for publication purposes; and if so, what conclusions were reached (HL14677); and b) what statistical disclosure control techniques, including aggregation, rounding, banding or noise adjustment, are available to the Office for National Statistics to enable publication of sectorlevel occupational data derived from low-count Standard Occupational Classification categories (HL14679).
The Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) codes are routinely used for statistical outputs. SOC codes are designed with a hierarchical structure, ranging from 1-digit codes for the broadest categories, 2 = ‘Professional occupations’ for example, to 4-digit codes for the most detailed categories, 2451 = ‘Architects’ for example. The SOC ‘nested’ structure means multiple Standard Occupation Classification codes are aggregated into higher-level groupings by design. The use of these standard groupings allows for better comparisons over time and with other data sources. Statistical outputs that the ONS produces will use an appropriate level of detail of SOC codes, aiming to balance the need for detailed occupation information, with the possibility of smaller categories falling below the publication threshold. Further information about the SOC classification can be found on the ONS website. There is currently a consultation to update SOC2020 because of the continual evolution of occupations, and to ensure that SOC reflects significant changes in the labour market. Submissions to the consultation are live until 11 May 2026.
All the disclosure control techniques you reference in your question are available to use. Aggregation and banding are the most used methods to increase the number of contributors. The choice of disclosure method depends on the source of data, user needs, disclosure risk and other related factors. The disclosure control methods applied are always designed to maximise the usefulness of the data whilst protecting the confidentiality of the contributors.
Yours sincerely,
Darren Tierney
https://consultations.ons.gov.uk/external-affairs/soc2020-revision-consultation/
Asked by: Lord Freyberg (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what statistical disclosure control techniques, including aggregation, rounding, banding or noise adjustment, are available to the Office for National Statistics to enable publication of sector-level occupational data derived from low-count Standard Occupational Classification categories.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
Please see the letter attached from the Permanent Secretary for the Office of National Statistics.
The Rt Hon. the Lord Freybeg
House of Lords
London
SW1A 0PW
02 March 2026
Dear Lord Freyberg,
As Permanent Secretary of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I am responding to your Parliamentary Question asking a) further to the Written Answer by Lord Livermore on 17 February (HL14181), whether the Office for National Statistics has assessed the feasibility and statistical acceptability of aggregating multiple Standard Occupational Classification codes that individually fall below publication thresholds into higher-level sector groupings for publication purposes; and if so, what conclusions were reached (HL14677); and b) what statistical disclosure control techniques, including aggregation, rounding, banding or noise adjustment, are available to the Office for National Statistics to enable publication of sectorlevel occupational data derived from low-count Standard Occupational Classification categories (HL14679).
The Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) codes are routinely used for statistical outputs. SOC codes are designed with a hierarchical structure, ranging from 1-digit codes for the broadest categories, 2 = ‘Professional occupations’ for example, to 4-digit codes for the most detailed categories, 2451 = ‘Architects’ for example. The SOC ‘nested’ structure means multiple Standard Occupation Classification codes are aggregated into higher-level groupings by design. The use of these standard groupings allows for better comparisons over time and with other data sources. Statistical outputs that the ONS produces will use an appropriate level of detail of SOC codes, aiming to balance the need for detailed occupation information, with the possibility of smaller categories falling below the publication threshold. Further information about the SOC classification can be found on the ONS website. There is currently a consultation to update SOC2020 because of the continual evolution of occupations, and to ensure that SOC reflects significant changes in the labour market. Submissions to the consultation are live until 11 May 2026.
All the disclosure control techniques you reference in your question are available to use. Aggregation and banding are the most used methods to increase the number of contributors. The choice of disclosure method depends on the source of data, user needs, disclosure risk and other related factors. The disclosure control methods applied are always designed to maximise the usefulness of the data whilst protecting the confidentiality of the contributors.
Yours sincerely,
Darren Tierney
https://consultations.ons.gov.uk/external-affairs/soc2020-revision-consultation/
Asked by: Lord Freyberg (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to incorporate self-assessment income tax data into the inter-departmental business register; if so, when they expect that data to be incorporated; and what assessment they have made of the impact of including that data on the representation of sole traders and businesses operating below the VAT threshold in official economic statistics.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
Please see the letter below from the Permanent Secretary at the Office for National Statistics (ONS):
Lord Freyberg
House of Lords
London
SW1A 0PW
09 February 2026
Dear Lord Freyberg,
As Permanent Secretary of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I am responding to your Parliamentary Question asking whether there is a plan to incorporate self-assessment income tax data into the Inter-Departmental Business Register; if so, when to expect that data to be incorporated; and what assessment has been made of the impact of including that data on the representation of sole traders and businesses operating below the VAT threshold in official economic statistics (HL14179).
The ONS is currently developing a new Statistical Business Register (SBR), which will replace the Inter-Departmental Business Register. We are planning to incorporate self-assessment income tax into the new SBR and are working closely with HM Revenue and Customs with the current expectation that they will be able to share the data later this year. We will then assess the data with a plan to incorporate into the SBR and assess the impact of the self-assessment data on economic statistics of businesses operating below the VAT threshold.
Yours sincerely,
Darren Tierney
Asked by: Lord Freyberg (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any Government controlled data sets are cited as capital assets on the National Balance Sheet; and if so, which ones.
Answered by Lord Young of Cookham
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
Letter from John Pullinger CB, National Statistician, to The Lord Freyberg, dated 15 October 2018.
Dear Lord Freyberg,
As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am responding to your Parliamentary Question asking if any Government controlled datasets are cited as capital assets on the National Balance Sheet; and if so, which ones (HL10475).
No datasets are individually cited within the National balance sheet. Using data sourced from the capital stocks perpetual inventory model (PIM), a depreciated estimate for the total value of computer software and databases for Central Government is produced and published within the National balance sheet[1]. This estimate would include all purchased software, such as spreadsheet or e-mail systems, as well as databases.
Yours sincerely,
John Pullinger
[1] https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/nationalaccounts/uksectoraccounts/bulletins/nationalbalancesheet/2018
Asked by: Lord Freyberg (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether data about all deaths of NHS cancer patients in England are collected by the National Cancer Registry; and if so, within how many months of death those data are collected.
Answered by Lord Bridges of Headley
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
Asked by: Lord Freyberg (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what has been the one-year survival rate for each of the last 15 years with regard to: (1) C50, malignant neoplasm of breast, (2) C61, malignant neoplasm of prostate, (3) C33-C34, malignant neoplasm of trachea, bronchus and lung, (4) C18-C20, malignant neoplasm of colon and rectum, (5) C43, malignant melanoma of skin, (6) C82-C85, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, (7) C67, malignant neoplasm of bladder, (8) C64, malignant neoplasm of kidney, except renal pelvis, (9) C91-C95, leukaemia, (10) C25, malignant neoplasm of pancreas, (11) C54-C55, malignant neoplasm of corpus uteri and uterus, part unspecified, (12) C15, malignant neoplasm of oesophagus, (13) C00-C14, malignant neoplasm of lip, oral cavity and pharynx, (14) C56-C57, malignant neoplasm of ovary and other unspecified female genital organs, (15) C16, malignant neoplasm of stomach, (16) all other neoplasms; and what were the weighted average one-year survival rates for those tumours listed in (1) to (5), and those tumours listed in (6) to (15).
Answered by Lord Bridges of Headley
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
Asked by: Lord Freyberg (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bridges of Headley on 26 January (HL5030), what historic data they hold on cancer registrations and deaths in England over the past 15 years owing to: (1) C50, malignant neoplasm of breast, (2) C61, malignant neoplasm of prostate, (3) C33-C34, malignant neoplasm of trachea, bronchus and lung, (4) C18-C20, malignant neoplasm of colon and rectum, (5) C43, malignant melanoma of skin, (6) C82-C85, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, (7) C67, malignant neoplasm of bladder, (8) C64, malignant neoplasm of kidney, except renal pelvis, (9) C91-C95, leukaemia, (10) C25, malignant neoplasm of pancreas, (11) C54-C55, malignant neoplasm of corpus uteri and uterus, part unspecified, (12) C15, malignant neoplasm of oesophagus, (13) C00-C14, malignant neoplasm of lip, oral cavity and pharynx, (14) C56-C57, malignant neoplasm of ovary and other unspecified female genital organs, (15) C16, malignant neoplasm of stomach, (16) all other neoplasms, (17) tumours listed in (1) to (5) in total, and (18) tumours listed in (6) to (15) in total.
Answered by Lord Bridges of Headley
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
Asked by: Lord Freyberg (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the latest figures for the total number and percentage of incidence of cancers and total deaths excluding non-melanoma skin cancer, for (1) the top five occurring cancers, including breast, prostate, colorectal, lung, and melanoma, (2) less common cancers with an incidence ranked six to 15 by the International Classification of Diseases code, and (3) all other lower incidence cancers.
Answered by Lord Bridges of Headley
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.