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Written Question
Office for National Statistics: Databases
Tuesday 30th January 2024

Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will provide a complete list of (1) data sets, and (2) projects which are currently active within the Office for National Statistics Integrated Data Service.

Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

Please see the letter attached from the National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority.

The Lord Clement-Jones

House of Lords

London

SW1A 0PW

24 January 2024

Dear Lord Clement-Jones

As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am responding to your Parliamentary Question asking if we will provide a complete list of (1) data sets, and (2) projects which are currently active within the Office for National Statistics’ (ONS) Integrated Data Service (IDS) (HL1623).

The IDS currently has 92 datasets ingested into the service. These datasets are available to accredited analysts and researchers from both the government’s analytical function and the wider research communities.

In terms of analysis taking place within the service, there are currently 15 live analytical projects within the IDS. While this is the number of live projects, there are other analysis proposals at a conceptual or approvals stage that will support policy development.

Future information on analyses and data will be made available in due course to ensure continued transparency of data and analysis within the IDS, in line with other Trusted Research Environments, such as the ONS’s Secure Research Service.

To ensure full transparency, a complete list of data sets and projects are listed in Annex A and Annex B respectively.

Yours sincerely,

Professor Sir Ian Diamond

Annex A:

A complete list of datasets which are currently within the Integrated Data Service.

Data Set Name

Valuation Office Agency (VOA)

Pluto Business to Business Matrix

Energy Performance Certificate

Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE)

Standard Industrial Classification/Standard Occupational Classification (SIC/SOC) References

Annual Population Survey

Business Register Employment Survey

ONS Births

ONS Deaths

GP Registration aggregate count

Aggregate Age/Sex counts for mid-year pop stats

Aggregate Age/Sex count for mid-year internal migration

Aggregate Age/Sex counts for UK regular Forces and Gurkhas

Aggregate Age/Sex counts for by prison, age and sex

Personal Demographics Services – Flag 4 National monthly July 2022

Statistical Population Dataset v4.1

Long Term International Passenger Survey (IPS)

Dynamic Population Model (DPM) International Emigration monthly

International Immigration monthly

Integrated Data Asset – Energy Performance Certificates

Integrated Data Asset – Ordnance Survey Private Outside Space

Integrated Data Asset – Land Registry Price Paid

Geographical Look ups

Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) Attribute Data

Population Statistics; Synthetic

Regions (December 2019) England Boundaries Generalised Clipped (BGC)

Census 2021 – MVP

Labour Force Survey UK – People

Labour Force Survey UK – Household

Labour Force Survey UK – Longitudinal

Business Enterprise R&D (BERD)

Business Structure Database (BSD)

Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE)-Census 2011

Update to Births

Update to Deaths

Redelivery of Census 2021 (extra variables)

Hospital Episodes Statistics (HES)

General Practitioner Episodes Statistics (GPES)

Census 2021 linked to Labour Force Survey (LFS)

ONS Mortality

Indices of Depravation

Mid-Year Population Estimates

Small Area Population Estimates

Business Register Employment Survey (BRES Un indexed)

Census 2011 Origin Destination EW

ONS Geography Boundary Products

ONS Geography Products

Aggregated Workplace Zone Geography

Census 2011 Output Tables

Census 2011 Output Tables Long

England Wales Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) Lookup

National Travel Survey Data

Census 2021 Output Tables

Census 2021 Output Tables Long

OpenStreet Map Data

DfT Origin Destination Pairs

Bus Timetable Data

Journey Times to Key Services

Trip End Model Program

International Passenger Survey (IPS)

(Nomis – Claimant accounts

Nomis – Jobseeker allowances

Nomis – Population estimates

Nomis – Annual Business Inquiry

Nomis – Business Register Employment Survey (BRES)

UK Small Area gross value added (GVA) estimates

Police Crime Data

Synthesizing Census Data

Business Enterprise Research and Development - Great Britain

Monthly Business Survey - UK

International Trade in Services - UK

Annual Foreign Direct Investment Survey - UK

Annual Purchases Survey - UK

Quarterly Capital Expenditure Survey - UK

E-commerce Survey - UK

UK Manufacturers’ Sales by Product Survey

COVID-19 Vaccine Opinions Survey - England

Low Carbon and Renewable Energy Economy Survey - UK

Census 1991 Individual - Great Britain

Census 2001 Individual - UK

Effects of Tax and Benefits - UK

Foreign Direct Investment - UK

Mergers & Acquisitions Survey - UK

Public Health Research Database

General Lifestyle Survey – Great Britain

Monthly Business Survey for Construction and Allied Trades GB

Labour Force Survey Longitudinal, Household & Personal - UK

Business Register Employment Survey (BRES – Indexed against Business Index only)

Annual Acquisition and Disposals of Capital Assets Survey - UK

Census 1991 Household - Great Britain

Annual Survey of Goods and Services - UK

Census 2001 Household - UK

Annex B

A complete list of projects which are currently active within the Integrated Data Service.

Project Title

Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) - ONS/HMT levelling up

Testing Bayesian methods for Demographic Accounting

Exploring Census 2021 Data to identify specific industry sectors or economic activity groups that require further analysis

Describing the interaction of climate and health in global official statistics.

Evaluating placed based programmes (DLUHC / ONS project)

Count of usual resident stratified by sex, age, ethnic group and deprivation for various geographies in England

Energy Efficiency of Housing

Exploring the health drivers of economic inactivity

Intermediate Consumption

Producing estimates of school aged children, by Local Authority, and pupil characteristics

Mobility and Geospatial Programme

Department for Levelling Up Housing and Communities Subnational Expenditure by Local Authority District

Synthesizing the Census for and in the IDS

Differences between Census 2021 and ONS household surveys in relation to the estimates of Welsh language ability

XGOV Levelling-up analysis


Written Question
Multiple Births
Monday 12th June 2023

Asked by: Zarah Sultana (Labour - Coventry South)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to support parents of twins and other multiples with the cost of (a) childcare and (b) other costs associated with raising children.

Answered by Claire Coutinho - Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero

In the Spring Budget 2023, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced transformative reforms to childcare for parents, children, and the economy. By 2027/28, the government will expect to be spending in excess of £8 billion every year on free hours and early education, helping working families with their childcare costs. This represents the single biggest investment in childcare in England ever.

The department’s reforms include:

  • Providing over £4.1 billion by 2027/28 to fund 30 hours of free childcare for children over the age of nine months.
  • Investing £204 million from September 2023, rising to £288 million in 2024/25 to uplift the rates for existing entitlements.
  • Increasing the supply of wraparound care through £289 million start-up funding.
  • Attracting more people to childminding through an up to £7.2 million start-up grant fund.
  • Giving providers more flexibility by changing staff-to-child ratios to 1:5 for two-year-olds in England.
  • Launching a consultation on further measures to support reform of the childcare market, to explore further flexibilities for providers.

In the past five years the department has spent more than £20 billion supporting families with the cost of childcare. Hundreds of thousands of children aged 3 and 4 are registered for a 30 hours place, saving eligible working parents up to £6,000 per child per year. Expanding this entitlement will help even more working parents with childcare costs.

The government is also taking action to support parents on Universal Credit with childcare costs upfront when they need it, rather than in arrears. We are increasing support for these parents by increasing the childcare cost maximum amounts up to £951 for one child and £1,630 for two or more children, a rise of 47% from the previous limits.

Additionally, Tax-Free Childcare is available for working parents of children aged 0-11, or up to 17 for eligible disabled children. This can save parents up to £2,000 per year, or up to £4,000 for eligible children with disabilities, and has the same income criteria as 30 hours free childcare.

There is no maximum limit, so regardless of the number of children claimed for, the parent can benefit provided they meet the criteria.


Written Question
Social Security Benefits
Thursday 8th June 2023

Asked by: Lord Field of Birkenhead (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government what was the average amount paid to individuals for each passported benefit, including (1) funeral payments, and (2) maternity grants.

Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

There are many passported benefits, for example free prescriptions and free school meals. The information provided relates solely to Funeral Expenses Payments and Sure Start Maternity Grant.

Funeral Expenses Payment (FEP) provides help towards the cost of a funeral. To be eligible for FEP, you (or your partner) must get one or more of the following benefits: Universal Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, the disability or severe disability element of Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit. You might also be eligible if you’re getting a Support for Mortgage Interest loan. This is in addition to other eligibility criteria which is available here: Get help with funeral costs (Funeral Expenses Payment): Eligibility - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Sure Start Maternity Grant (SSMG) is payment of £500 to provide help with the costs of a new baby (or babies in the event of a multiple birth) if there are no other children under 16 in the claimant’s family. To be eligible for SSMG, you (or your partner) must get one of these benefits: Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Pension Credit, Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element or Universal Credit. You may also qualify if you’re getting a Support of Mortgage Interest Loan. This is in addition to other eligibility criteria which is available here: Sure Start Maternity Grant: Eligibility - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

The table below provides information of the average award for both FEP and SSMG. Information on average awards along with other data such as number of awards can be found in Annex 1 of the Annual Social Fund Reports which can be found here: Social Fund accounts and reports - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). The 2021/22 Social Fund Report is due to be published in the near future and thus the data below goes up to 2020/21.

Table 1: Average award for Funeral Expenses Payments and Sure Start Maternity Grant

£

2020/21

2019/20

2018/19

FEP

508

508

508

SSMG

1,838

1,561

1,517

Notes:

  1. Data is for England and Wales.
  2. For SSMG and FEP, the average award value is calculated by dividing gross expenditure by the number of awards.
  3. The average SSMG award is higher than the award value of £500 to reflect the additional award made for multiple births.
  4. SSMG devolved to Scotland on 10 December 2018. From this date, SSMG is only awarded in England and Wales. Therefore, the figures report on Great Britain up to 10 December 2018, and on England and Wales from that date onwards.
  5. Due to missing data for 2019 to 2020, the SSMG average award figure has been estimated using a historical average. From this, the number of awards has been calculated by dividing gross expenditure by this average award.

Written Question
Maternity Disparities Taskforce
Tuesday 9th May 2023

Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will revise the Terms of Reference for the Maternity Disparities Task Force in order to ensure they (a) adequately reflect the multiple and complex reasons underlying those disparities and (b) explicitly mention racism.

Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)

We updated the Women and Equalities Select Committee via correspondence about various aspects of the Maternal Disparities taskforce in March. The questions raised within these Parliamentary Questions are taken from the recommendations within the Women and Equalities Select Committee Report on Black maternal Health, which was published on 18 April 2023. We will consider the findings and recommendations made by the Women and Equalities Select Committee and publish our response in due course.

We take the contents of this report very seriously and remain committed to tackling maternal inequalities and improving equity for mothers and babies. We will continue work to make the National Health Service one of the best places in the world to give birth by offering mothers and babies better support and safer care.

While births in England are among the safest globally, we must do more to ensure maternity care is consistent regardless of race. To address this, Local Maternity and Neonatal Systems have begun to publish Equity and Equality Action Plans to tackle disparities in outcomes and experiences of maternity care at a local level. The Maternity Disparities Taskforce, which last met on 18 April, brings together experts from across the health system, Government Departments and the voluntary sector to explore and consider evidence-based interventions to tackle maternal disparities.


Written Question
Maternity Leave and Maternity Pay: Multiple Births
Thursday 25th November 2021

Asked by: Janet Daby (Labour - Lewisham East)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what extra statutory maternity pay and leave provisions are available for parents of multiple births.

Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Statutory Maternity Pay is paid in respect of each pregnancy. This provides a measure of financial security which allows a pregnant working woman to take time off from work towards the end of her pregnancy, and in the months following childbirth in the interest of her own and her babies' health and wellbeing.


Written Question
Prison Accommodation: Females
Tuesday 1st June 2021

Asked by: Ellie Reeves (Labour - Lewisham West and Penge)

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, on how many occasions facilities enabling women and their children to spend time together overnight at (a) HMP Drake Hall, (b) HMP Styal and (c) HMP Askham Grange operated at full capacity in (i) 2018, (ii) 2019 and (iii) 2020.

Answered by Alex Chalk - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice

There are six Mother and Baby Units (MBUs) across the women’s prison estate located at HMP Askham Grange, HMP Bronzefield, HMP Eastwood Park, HMP New Hall, HMP Peterborough and HMP Styal. MBUs are a national resource and enable mothers to maintain a bond with their children during an important period in their development and aim to reduce the negative impact imprisonment can have on young children, if evidence suggests it is in their best interests to remain with their mother.

The MBU also allows for children from the community to come and join their mothers in an MBU up to the age of 18 months. The environment is safe and nurturing for children, with development opportunities you would see in other nurseries, including toys and trips into the community. There is a national capacity of 64 mothers and 70 babies (to allow for multiple births). The national capacity has not been exceeded.

In addition to the existing MBUs, HMP Drake Hall and HMP Askham Grange offer overnight facilities that enable mothers and their children to spend time together. These facilities are available to all children up to the age of 18 years old. There is no additional overnight accommodation available at HMP Styal however, HMP Eastwood Park have enhanced the use of their MBU to provide an opportunity for risk assessed women to spend an overnight stay with one child, up to 12 years of age in the specifically arranged family room.

In regard to capacity, the HMP Askham Grange unit has five double bedrooms to accommodate large families, however only one mother can use the facility at one time. Although information is not held in the time periods requested, the facility was used 144 times in 2018-19 and 98 times in 2019-20.

HMP Drake Hall has two separate units that can accommodate one mother, up to three children aged toddler to 18 years of age, and one baby in a travel cot. For larger families, the two suites can be combined to provide facilities for up to 6 children, which is assessed on a case by case basis. Full information relating to the number of occasions this facility was used is not held however, the suite has not been used during 2020 due to COVID restrictions.


Written Question
Prison Accommodation: Females
Tuesday 1st June 2021

Asked by: Ellie Reeves (Labour - Lewisham West and Penge)

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) women and (b) children can access overnight accommodation in HMP (i) Drake Hall, (ii) Styal and (iii) Askham Grange.

Answered by Alex Chalk - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice

There are six Mother and Baby Units (MBUs) across the women’s prison estate located at HMP Askham Grange, HMP Bronzefield, HMP Eastwood Park, HMP New Hall, HMP Peterborough and HMP Styal. MBUs are a national resource and enable mothers to maintain a bond with their children during an important period in their development and aim to reduce the negative impact imprisonment can have on young children, if evidence suggests it is in their best interests to remain with their mother.

The MBU also allows for children from the community to come and join their mothers in an MBU up to the age of 18 months. The environment is safe and nurturing for children, with development opportunities you would see in other nurseries, including toys and trips into the community. There is a national capacity of 64 mothers and 70 babies (to allow for multiple births). The national capacity has not been exceeded.

In addition to the existing MBUs, HMP Drake Hall and HMP Askham Grange offer overnight facilities that enable mothers and their children to spend time together. These facilities are available to all children up to the age of 18 years old. There is no additional overnight accommodation available at HMP Styal however, HMP Eastwood Park have enhanced the use of their MBU to provide an opportunity for risk assessed women to spend an overnight stay with one child, up to 12 years of age in the specifically arranged family room.

In regard to capacity, the HMP Askham Grange unit has five double bedrooms to accommodate large families, however only one mother can use the facility at one time. Although information is not held in the time periods requested, the facility was used 144 times in 2018-19 and 98 times in 2019-20.

HMP Drake Hall has two separate units that can accommodate one mother, up to three children aged toddler to 18 years of age, and one baby in a travel cot. For larger families, the two suites can be combined to provide facilities for up to 6 children, which is assessed on a case by case basis. Full information relating to the number of occasions this facility was used is not held however, the suite has not been used during 2020 due to COVID restrictions.


Written Question
Prison Accommodation: Females
Tuesday 1st June 2021

Asked by: Ellie Reeves (Labour - Lewisham West and Penge)

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, which women’s prisons provide facilities for women and their children to spend time together overnight.

Answered by Alex Chalk - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice

There are six Mother and Baby Units (MBUs) across the women’s prison estate located at HMP Askham Grange, HMP Bronzefield, HMP Eastwood Park, HMP New Hall, HMP Peterborough and HMP Styal. MBUs are a national resource and enable mothers to maintain a bond with their children during an important period in their development and aim to reduce the negative impact imprisonment can have on young children, if evidence suggests it is in their best interests to remain with their mother.

The MBU also allows for children from the community to come and join their mothers in an MBU up to the age of 18 months. The environment is safe and nurturing for children, with development opportunities you would see in other nurseries, including toys and trips into the community. There is a national capacity of 64 mothers and 70 babies (to allow for multiple births). The national capacity has not been exceeded.

In addition to the existing MBUs, HMP Drake Hall and HMP Askham Grange offer overnight facilities that enable mothers and their children to spend time together. These facilities are available to all children up to the age of 18 years old. There is no additional overnight accommodation available at HMP Styal however, HMP Eastwood Park have enhanced the use of their MBU to provide an opportunity for risk assessed women to spend an overnight stay with one child, up to 12 years of age in the specifically arranged family room.

In regard to capacity, the HMP Askham Grange unit has five double bedrooms to accommodate large families, however only one mother can use the facility at one time. Although information is not held in the time periods requested, the facility was used 144 times in 2018-19 and 98 times in 2019-20.

HMP Drake Hall has two separate units that can accommodate one mother, up to three children aged toddler to 18 years of age, and one baby in a travel cot. For larger families, the two suites can be combined to provide facilities for up to 6 children, which is assessed on a case by case basis. Full information relating to the number of occasions this facility was used is not held however, the suite has not been used during 2020 due to COVID restrictions.


Written Question
Multiple Births
Tuesday 20th April 2021

Asked by: Sharon Hodgson (Labour - Washington and Sunderland West)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 17 March 2020 to Question 157977 on Antenatal Care, what assurances he is providing to families who give birth to multiples in units in England and Wales that they will be seen by a multidisciplinary team of doctors, midwives and sonographers who are experts in twin pregnancies.

Answered by Nadine Dorries

Women who are pregnant with more than one baby should expect to be seen by a multidisciplinary team of doctors, midwives and sonographers who are experts in twin pregnancies. The fetal medicine clinics which are being established will standardise this type of care and make it available in every part of England.


Written Question
Infant Mortality: Multiple Births
Tuesday 30th March 2021

Asked by: Giles Watling (Conservative - Clacton)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that maternity units implement the recommendations in the MBRRACE Perinatal Confidential Enquiry into stillbirths and neonatal deaths in twin pregnancies.

Answered by Nadine Dorries

Through the Maternity Transformation Programme, a range of interventions are being implemented to support the delivery of maternity and neonatal care according to clinical guidelines, as recommended in the MBRRACE Perinatal Confidential Enquiry into stillbirths and neonatal deaths in twin pregnancies, and to improve perinatal outcomes.

Every National Health Service maternity service is actively implementing elements of the Saving Babies Lives Care Bundle which sets out specific care pathways that can affect twin/multiple pregnancies including prevention of fetal growth restriction and preterm birth. Multidisciplinary fetal medicine clinics are being established across England, which aim to ensure that high risk women have timely access to specialist advice and care at all stages of pregnancy.