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Information was published on the method used for selecting local authorities for case studies on the NS website in March 2006. For more information see http://www.statistics.gov.uk/about/data/methodology/specific/population/future/imps/updates/defaultasp
Work is currently progressing on four local authorities. We are expected to report on the findings during the autumn. The outcome of the four case studies areas will then be evaluated. The selection and approach of any further case studies will be considered following the outcome of the review.
Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to ensure that the mid-year population estimates more closely reflect the effects of internal and external migration; and if he will make a statement. [81993]
John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 5 July 2006:
As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your question regarding what steps are being taken to ensure that the mid-year population estimates more closely reflect the effects of internal and international migration; and if the Chancellor will make a statement. (81993)
Migration is particularly difficult to estimate due to a rapidly changing population structure, which includes an increase in mobility and complex changes in living arrangements. ONS recognised this was a particular issue before the 2001| Census was undertaken.
The sources used to estimate internal migration were changed before the 2001 Census. Up to 1998 the National Health Service Central Register (NHSCR) was used in conjunction with data from electoral rolls. There were known limitations with the electoral roll data source. For example there were variations in the registers caused by the procedures used to maintain them. It was also possible for people to be registered in two different areas, such as students, and those under 18 were not included. Research was carried out that identified a higher quality data source in GP registers. From 1999 onwards, the internal migration component of the population estimates was based on a combination of NHSCR and GP register data.
Population
estimates use the United Nations definition of an international
migrant, which is somebody who migrates for a period of at least 12
months. Mid-year population estimates therefore estimate those that are
‘usually resident’ at that time.
Following the 2001 Census a number of improvements were made to the
methodology of international migration. Improvements were made to allow
for those who stayed in their destination country for longer or shorter
than they had originally intended, and therefore either became or were
no longer considered a migrant (migrant and visitor switchers).
Improvements were also made to fully allow for the migration of
dependants of asylum seekers and to fully estimate outflows of failed
asylum seekers and their dependants. Along with more minor technical
adjustments to migration estimates, these changes have been
incorporated into the revised 1991 to 2001
estimates.
The National Statistics Quality Review (NSQR) on International Migration was commissioned before the 2001 Census results were published. Please see the following link for further details of the NSQR:
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/about/data/methodology/quality/reviews/population.asp
Following publication of the 2001 Census the ‘Improving Migration and Population Estimates’ (IMPS) project was set up and incorporated recommendations of the NSQR. The IMPS project is primarily research based and concentrates on aspects of improving both internal and international migration and population statistics through methodology improvements and the identification of the most relevant and reliable data sources. The project is currently involved in liasing with a number of local authorities (LAs). ONS is working in partnership with these LAs to investigate whether local knowledge can help improve migration and population estimates. Any findings can potentially be applied to LAs with similar characteristics.
More specifically the IMPS project will consider how further improvements can be made to the internal migration methodology and data sources, one example of this is the issues around students registration with GPs. Research involving international migration will consider improvements in how to distribute International Passenger Survey (IPS) flows within England and Wales. In addition to this, other possible data sources will be considered, as will improvements to the estimations of IPS flows by altering and adding to existing questions in the IPS. In addition, ONS set up a Task Force on Migration Statistics in May. This aims to identify improvements that could realistically be made over the next couple of years.
We are also researching the feasibility of producing estimates of short-term migrants. The population estimates measure those that are usually resident and therefore do not measure those that are temporarily living in England or Wales. It is hoped that estimates of short-term migrants will be able to be used in conjunction with the existing population estimates.
Please find further details of the IMPS project here:
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/about/data/methodology/specific/population/future/imps/default.asp
Retirement Age
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 13 February 2006, Official Report, columns 1695-6W, on retirement age, whether the conclusion set out in the answer depends upon the assumption of changes in current practice with regard to continued eligibility following career breaks. [82512]
Mr. Timms: The probability of a 20-year-old public sector worker leaving employment before age 60 was based on analysis of recent experience. No change was assumed in eligibility for pension scheme membership following career breaks.
Road Pricing Pilots
Chris Grayling: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether motorists participating in the proposed road pricing pilot will be entitled to lower rates of fuel duty when driving outside the area covered by the pricing scheme; [82204]
(2) whether motorists participating in the proposed road pricing pilot will be entitled to a fuel duty rebate. [82257]
John Healey: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by the Minister of State for Transport (Dr. Ladyman) on 25 May 2006, Official Report, column 1954W.
Tax Credits
Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which local authorities had an increase in the number of people claiming tax credits between 2001 and 2005. [81988]
Dawn Primarolo: A comparison of the number of recipients of working families tax credits and disabled person tax credits as at May 2001, and in-work families with children, receiving more than the family element of child and working tax credits in 2004-05, shows that all local authorities have had an increase in the number of recipients.
Geographical breakdown of children’s tax credits is not available.
Estimates for the number of recipients of working families tax credits and disabled persons tax credits, from May 2001 to November 2002, are published in “Working Families and Disabled Persons Tax Credit Statistics, Geographical Analyses”, which is available on the HMRC website at:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/wftc/wfdptc_geog.htm
Estimates for 2003-04 and 2004-05 of the numbers of in-work families with tax credits awards, by local authority, based on final family circumstances and incomes for 2003-04 and 2004-05 are published in “Child and Working Tax Credits. Finalised Awards 2003-04 Geographical Analysis” and the “Child and Working Tax Credits. Finalised Awards 2004-05 Geographical Analysis”. These publications and provisional estimates for the number of in-work families by local authority with tax credit awards as at selected dates in 2005-06 are available on the HMRC website at:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-geog-stats.htm.
Unemployment
Mr. Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the change in (a) male and (b) female unemployment in Yeovil constituency has been in each of the last five years. [82252]
John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the national statistician who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 5 July 2006:
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about unemployment.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles statistics of unemployment for local areas from the annual local area Labour Force Survey and Annual Population Survey following International Labour Organisation definitions. However, sample sizes are insufficient to provide estimates of change in male and female unemployment in the Yeovil Parliamentary Constituency.
ONS also compiles statistics for local areas of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA). Table 1, attached, shows the annual changes in levels and proportions of working-age resident population for male claimants of JSA, resident in the Yeovil constituency, for May of each year from 2001 to 2006. Table 2 shows corresponding data for female claimants of JSA.
| Table 1: Changes in levels and proportions for male claimants of jobseeker’s allowance resident in the Yeovil parliamentary constituency, May 2001 to May 2006 | ||||
| Level | Proportion of working-age population( 1) | |||
| May of each year | Number | Change on year | Proportion (percentage) | Change on year (percentage points) |
| (1)
Aged 16 to
64. Source: Jobcentre Plus Administrative system. | ||||
| Table 2: Changes in levels and proportions for female claimants of jobseeker’s allowance resident in the Yeovil parliamentary constituency, May 2001 to May 2006 | ||||
| Level | Proportion of working-age population( 1) | |||
| May of each year | Number | Change on year | Proportion (percentage) | Change on year (percentage points) |
| (1)
Aged 16 to
59. Source: Jobcentre Plus Administrative system. | ||||
Health
Alcohol-related Hospital Admissions
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people (a) under and (b) over the age of 18 years were admitted to hospital for alcohol-related problems in the last year for which figures are available, broken down by region. [81693]
Caroline Flint: The information requested is shown in the table, by Government Office Region provides data on finished admission episodes for people under and over 18 years admitted to hospital for alcohol related problems in 2004-05.
Counts of finished admission episodes for selected(1) alcohol related diseases by regional office of residence and age grouping in national health service hospitals 2004-05.
(1) Alcohol related diseases defined as following ICD-10 codes recorded in primary diagnosis.
| Regional office of residence | Aged under 18 | Aged 18 and over | Age not known |
| Notes: Finished
admission episodes. A finished admission episode is the first
period of in-patient care under one consultant within one healthcare
provider. Admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a
person may have more than one admission within the
year. Primary diagnosis The primary diagnosis
is the first of up to 14 ( seven prior to 2002-03) diagnosis fields in
the hospital episode statistics (HES) data set and provides the main
reason why the patient was in hospital. Primary care trust (PCT) and
strategic health authority (SNA) data quality PCT and SHA data was
added to historic data-years in the HES database using 2002-03
boundaries, as a one-off exercise in 2004. The quality of the data on
PCT of treatment and SHA of treatment is poor in 1996-97, 1997-98 and
1998-99, with over a third of all finished episodes having missing
values in these years. Data quality of PCT of general practitioner (GP)
practice and SHA of GP practice in 1997-98 and 1998-99 is also poor,
with a high proportion missing values where practices changed or ceased
to exist. There is less change in completeness of the residence-based
fields over time, where the majority of unknown values are due to
missing postcodes on birth episodes. Users of time series analysis
including these years need to be aware of these issues in their
interpretation of the data. Ungrossed
data Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in
data; that is the data are ungrossed. Low
numbers Due to reasons of confidentiality, figures between
one and five have been suppressed and replaced with “*”
(an asterisk). F10 Mental and behavioural disorders due to use
of alcohol K70 Alcoholic liver disease T51 Toxic
effect of alcohol Source: Hospital episode
statistics (HES), The Information Centre for health and social
care | |||
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