Developments with ONS’ Small Area Population Estimates Project Andy Bates

Outline of talk ●Current Position ●Ratio Change method ●Data Sources used in estimates ●User Consultation ●Geography Considerations ●Future publication and work plans ●Current Position ●Ratio Change method ●Data Sources used in estimates ●User Consultation ●Geography Considerations ●Future publication and work plans

Current Position ●Produced mid-2001 and mid-2002 CAS ward estimates –quinary age and sex ●Published as experimental statistics – April 2005 ●User consultation –12 weeks ● Available on Neighbourhood Statistics this week

Eg to derive ratios for 0-4 year olds by sex, we create dataset specific ratios: Eg CB ratio = Year 2 dataset count Year 1 dataset count 0-4 ratio = Child Benefit ratio + Patient Register ratio 2 Ratio Change method

Base population Year 1 SP x ratio SP Year 2 Population 2nd period Ratio Change method Constrain to LA MYEs less SP

Data Sources - Child Benefit ●Now provided by Inland Revenue –previously provided by DWP ●Receive counts for 0-4’s, 5-9’s & 10-14’s by sex ●Data provided for Lower Layer SOAs ●Good coverage of children 0-14 –undercount (mid-2003) compared to MYEs 1.7% ●Data consistent over time –overall counts –geographically

Data Sources - Older Persons Dataset ●Provided by DWP ●Comprises a number of benefit databases –eg State Pension, Widows Benefit & Winter Fuel Allowance ●Receive counts by quinary age group & sex –65-69, 70-74, & 80+ ●Data provided for Lower Layer SOAs ●Good coverage of elderly population –undercount (mid-2003) compared to MYEs 1.3% ●Data consistent over time & geographically

Data Sources - Patient Registers ●Used by ONS to calculate internal migration ●Get postcode counts by single year of age & sex –can easily aggregate to different geographies ●Issue of list inflation –mid-2004 PR counts > 2004 MYEs by 2.9m (5.4%) ●Data not always consistent over time –problems in student areas –problems caused by list cleaning

Data Sources - Patient Registers Patient Register counts less MYEs

Data Sources - Patient Registers 2004 Patient Registers and 2004 MYEs for England & Wales

Data Sources - Patient Registers

User Consultation ●12-week period of consultation ●28 responses received –Govt. depts/agencies 2 –Regional Health Observatories 1 –Local Government County Councils 6 District Councils 3 Joint Strategy Units & GLA 3 London Boroughs/Unitaries13 ●21 organisations completed the response form

User Consultation ●Requirement for alternative age groupings –13-19, & ●Quality of the estimates: –Excellent 1 6% –Good1372% –Fair 211% –Poor 211% ●Clear requirement for ward estimates –CAS Wards 315% –Standard Table Wards 0 –Statistical Wards1785%

User Consultation ●Favourable reaction to the estimates ●Gives some early indication of Ratio Change suitability However ●Base population issue identified in wards with large Armed Forces presence –methodological solution found ●Base population distribution - evidence in 2 LAs of ward overestimation and underestimation –further investigation required

Geography Considerations

Geography Considerations – eg Dover, Kent

Middle Layer SOA Estimates Statistical Ward Estimates MSOA estimates less SP constrained to Patient Register postcode counts Patient Register MSOA constrained counts aggregated to Statistical Wards Statistical Wards overlaid onto Patient Register postcodes Add back in special population Remove special population Geography Considerations – SOAs & Wards

Publication Plans ●Mid-2001, mid-2002 & mid-2003 SOA estimates –Lower Layers by broad age group & sex –Middle Layers by quinary age group & sex –publication provisionally planned for early 2006 ●Mid-2003 Statistical Ward estimates –only if suitable methodology can be found –problematic because base population may be needed –lack of time series when wards change –if recasting methodology suitable, publish in 2006

Work Plans ●Consider methodological enhancements for 3 shortlisted methods –Apportionment –Cohort component –Ratio Change ●Evaluate estimates for mid-2002, mid-2003 & mid from all 3 shortlisted methods ●Following evaluation identify a preferred method ●Consider transition from Experimental Statistics to National Statistics

Contact Information the project team at: Updated information on the NS website at:

Any questions?