Registering for the

Census 2001: Special Licence Household Sample of Anonymised Records (SL-HSAR)

 

The Special Licence Household SAR is available under a special licence from ONS and is disseminated by ESDS. Access to the large majority of microdata only requires registration, agreement to an End User Licence (EUL) and the registration of usage details. These data are fully anonymised and certain variables may be suppressed to minimise the risk of disclosure. However, it was recognised that some researchers need access to more detailed data. To facilitate this and to increase the range of data available for statistical research, the Office for National Statistics (ONS), in collaboration with the UK Data Archive (UKDA) and ESDS Government, developed a Special Licence (SL) to provide access to social survey datasets that are detailed, yet anonymised. The SL was launched in September 2005.

The coming into force of the Statistics and Registration Service Act in April 2008 brought to an end SL arrangements prior to this act. Access to ONS SL data continues under a new legal framework set out in the act. Household SAR data from the 2001 Census is available from ESDS under this special licence. Any registered user requiring ONS SL data will have to be accredited by the UK Statistics Authority as an Approved Researcher. This page describes the process of applying for data under special licence as this is more complex than applying for the Individual or Small Area Microdata licensed data. Users have to agree to keep the data under secure conditions and institutions are responsible for ensuring these conditions are met. For more information see the ESDS web page.

Non-academic users will find access information on separate pages.  Access is currently restricted to UK users.

To apply for accreditation a user will have to provide evidence that he/she is a fit and proper person and details about the purpose of the research. The evidence to be adduced will include previous research projects and publications. New users may need to provide the contact details of a senior member of staff who can vouch for them. The research purpose form will ask for information about the intended use of the data, a justification for access and planned outputs.Further information on requirements for accreditation as an Approved Researcher can be found on the ESDS web site and here.

In order to use these data you will need to order the data from ESDS. Their household SAR page contains a download/order link in the top right hand corner. You will be prompted to login via UK Federation. You will be recognised if you have either:

If you have not registered with either of these you will automatically be routed to the ESDS registration system. This involves completing a web form and responding to an email.

Once you have registered you can return to the Household SARs page to order.

All ESDS orders need to be associated with a declared usage (i.e. the reason you want to access the data).


Reg1

Complete the form. Please note that the file you are applying to use is now referred to as the Census 2001: Special Licence Household Sample of Anonymised Records (SL-HSAR). If you have previously registered the usage for which the Household SAR is needed select this, otherwise, register a new usage for the Household SAR.

You will then be taken to what would normally be a data download page:

Reg2

You should click the "Accept special condition" link to download a copy of the Approved Researcher form. An electronic copy of the completed form should be emailed to help@esds.ac.uk.

Please note that applications for Special Licence data are initially screened by the UK Data Archive and then passed to the data depositor, the Office for National Statistics, for approval. Any user requiring these data will have to be accredited by the UK Statistics Authority as an Approved Researcher. Applicants should therefore allow for a time delay whilst their application is being processed.

Failure to provide adequate or comprehensive details will require the applicant to update the contents of the form.

Note that upon approval, applicants will be contacted and required to sign a Declaration that he/she understands the confidentiality obligations owed to those data including its physical security. Applicants are required to read and follow the Microdata handling and security: guide to good practice. Breaches in the conditions may result in penalties to both the applicant and his/her institution.

 

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