2001 Samples of Anonymised Records
1. Differences between countries of the UK
In the UK there are separate statistical offices for England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and the Registrar General in each office has responsibility for the content and conduct of the census of population for that country. Therefore each office makes its own decisions over the questions to be asked and the methods to be used to produce outputs. Despite this there is a good deal of co-ordination of topics and questions between the Office for National Statistics (England and Wales), the General Register Office for Scotland and the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency. Whilst the objective has been to ask the same questions across the United Kingdom, there are a number of differences resulting from specific requirements in each country. These differences have an effect on the classifications and outputs available for each country of the UK.
The UK 2001 Census Definitions volume provides the main source of information on the methods used to conduct the 2001 census and the differences between countries. A few differences of significance to SAR users are highlighted below.
1.1 Question differences:
Household Question
Number of floors. Asked in Northern Ireland only.
Landlord. This question is the same for all parts of the UK,
except that the response categories use local terminology.
Furnished/Unfurnished. Asked in Scotland only.
Person Questions
Ethnic group. There are differences in this question between
England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, resulting in separate
output classifications.
Religion. There are differences in this question between England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, resulting in separate output classifications. There are two questions in Scotland and Northern Ireland (current religion and religion of upbringing), only one in England and Wales.
Language. There are specific questions on Celtic languages asked in Wales (Welsh), Scotland (Gaelic) and Northern Ireland (Irish). England has no question on Celtic language.
Qualifications. There
are differences in this question between England and Wales, Scotland and
Northern Ireland. In England and Wales there is an additional question
asking for information on teaching, medical, nursing and dental professional
qualifications. In Scotland there is one tick box response category asking
if people have ‘professional qualifications (for example, teaching,
accountancy)’. In Northern Ireland, there is no question asking
for information on professional qualifications.
Travel destination. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland the
travel destination question refers only to place of work and is asked
of people aged 16 to 74 in a job the week before Census. In Scotland,
the travel destination question is asked of all people and relates to
the address travelled to for the main job or course of study (including
school).
Method of travel. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland the method of travel relates to travel to the main place of work. In Scotland, method of travel relates to travel to the main place of work or study. There are minor differences in the response categories across countries. For more information about question differences between 1991 and 2001 across the UK countries see the ONS web site.
1.2 Variables in the Licensed Samples of Anonymised Records
ONS has produced a classifications document that provides comprehensive
information on 2001 Census definitions, concepts and classifications.
The document has been split into four files, accessible from the ONS
web site.
There are four household indicator variables, associated with different dimensions of deprivation: housing, health, employment and education. These classifications are only available for England and Wales and Northern Ireland.
The Census results include a table which measures deprivation according to four ‘dimensions’ of deprivation:
Education: No member of the household aged 16 to pensionable
age has at least 5 GCSEs (grade A-C) or equivalent AND no member of the
household aged 16-18 is in full-time education.
Health and disability: Any member of the household has general
health 'not good' in the year before Census or has a limiting long term
illness.
Housing: The household's accommodation is either overcrowded
(occupancy indicator is -1 or less), OR is in a shared dwelling OR does
not have sole use of bath/shower and toilet OR has no central heating.
Employment: Any member of the household aged 16-74 who is not
a full-time student is either unemployed or permanently sick.
1.3 Classifications used in the Samples of Anonymised Records
There are four household indicator variables, associated with different
dimensions of deprivation: housing, health, employment and education.
These classifications are only available for England and Wales and Northern
Ireland.
1.4 Classifications available in the Controlled Access Microdata Files (CAMS)
The CAMs data for England and Wales contains the 2004 Index of Deprivation
scores and the values for the four domains that are consistent across
all countries: Income; Employment; Health deprivation and disability;
Education, skills and training.
For Scotland only the deciles into which the 2001 Index of Deprivations scores fall are available. The Index of Deprivation is based on super-output areas in all countries.
Indices of Deprivation
http://www.warrington.gov.uk/facts/Indices_of_Deprivation_2007.aspx
Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivations
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/10/28104046/0
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/10/20111618/0
Last updated 25 April 2007
