Beyond 2011: A rural perspective Brian Wilson 22nd November 2013 ONS consultation event, London

Overview Rural interests agree that a Census held every decade has its weaknesses Some considerations are no different for rural and other (urban) interests Focus on two particular rural needs: - Parish level statistics - Rural-urban definition Key is the availability of small area statistics Beyond 2011: a rural perspective

All parishes (of all sizes) How small is small? Number of parishes within stated population size bands Up to 149 residents 150 to 299 residents 300 to 499 residents All parishes (of all sizes) South Norfolk district 8 26 28 119 West Berkshire 2 12 59 Cumbria county 40 (data is suppressed now for 26) 50 74 283

Suffolk Parishes (in red) where no characteristics data is likely to be available under the administrative data/4% survey option Parishes smaller than LSOAs or not matching LSOAs

Why does this matter? Localism – more is expected of Parish/Town Councils and community groups Neighbourhood Plans – statutory documents, where policies have to be evidence based Key NP issues – housing (households, tenure) and economy (employment, travel to work) Population Census – the one official data source at this geography (complete, trusted, comparable) Other uses e.g. Parish Plans, community funding bids

Rural-urban definition Rural = settlements with fewer than 10,000 residents Splits into: rural towns (3,000 to 9,999); villages (500 to 2,999); and hamlets/dispersed (up to 499) Calculated by matching Census Output Areas to settlement boundaries National use – ‘rural proofing’ of policy making across Whitehall (a Government commitment) Local use – targeting small settlements e.g. planning policies, business rate relief, reviews of school provision May be resolvable, but need to clarify what would be possible and what would be lost Beyond 2011: a rural perspective

Brian Wilson brian.wilson@sparse.gov.uk 020 8241 6343 www.rsnonline.org.uk