SINePost newsletter - April 2014

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In this issue ...

1. Distance Travelled to Work
   
2. Child Health Profiles 2014
   
3. Child Benefit Opt-Out statistics
   
4. Census 2011: Health and Disability
   
5. Future of the Census
   
6. National Survey of Bereaved People (VOICES)
   
7. Wettest Winter
   
8. Statistical Digest of Rural England 2014
   
9. National Park Population estimates
   
10. Non-Internet Users
    
11. Forthcoming Statistical Releases
    

1.  Distance Travelled to Work

Workers in Somerset travel an average of 16.4 kilometres (10.2 miles) to their place of work according to results released from the 2011 Census. The figures indicate that commuting journeys are getting longer: compared to the previous Census in 2001, Somerset workers now commute an average of 2.1 km further.

At a local level, people in West Quantock currently travel the farthest to their workplace (an average of 24 miles), while people in Yeovil South ward have the shortest commutes (an average of 6 miles).

Meanwhile, around 1 in 5 Somerset workers live within 2km of their workplace, and 1 in 30 live more than 60km (37 miles) away. Additionally, 14% of people mainly work at, or from, home.

The full dataset, including detailed statistics by age, sex, ethnic group, industry, occupation and car/van availability is available at: www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/2011-census-analysis/distance-travelled-to-work/index.html

2.  Child Health Profiles 2014

Public Health England has published updated local authority profiles providing a snapshot of local levels of child health and wellbeing: www.chimat.org.uk/resource/view.aspx?RID=101746&REGION=101635

The profile for Somerset finds that the health and wellbeing of children in the county is ‘mixed’ compared with the England average. Somerset performs significantly better than the national average in areas including obesity in children (at age 10-11) and hospital admissions for asthma.

However, Somerset is significantly worse than the national average in terms of a range of indicators relating to hospital admissions. These include admissions due to: alcohol specific conditions; substance misuse; injury; and self-harm. Most of the indicators in the profiles are based on 2012/13 data.

3.  Child Benefit Opt-Out statistics

A total of 4,260 Somerset children have been opted-out of receiving Child Benefit, according to figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (as of August 2013). The opt-out is available to parents/guardians with an income over £50,000, who would otherwise have money reclaimed through the ‘High Income Child Benefit charge’. See: www.statsusernet.org.uk/communities/resources/viewdocument/?DocumentKey=39091bcc-9711-4e91-9c55-16bd1e1bbe7e&MessageKey=3943a2f7-33ea-49d1-82ef-4aabded74ac3

Meanwhile, the DWP has released Child Benefit claimant numbers for small geographical areas (Electoral wards and LSOAs), broken down by age of child and number of children in a family: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/child-benefit-statistics-small-area-data-august-2013

The data can be considered as a proxy measure of the child population (however, as families ‘opt-out’, this will become less reliable). The figures indicate that Yeovil East ward has the highest number of children receiving Child Benefit in Somerset (2,070), while West Quantock has the fewest (120). The area with the highest proportion of one-child families is Glastonbury (in the St Benedict’s and St Edmund’s wards), while Bridgwater Hamp has the highest proportion of families with three or more children.

4.  2011 Census: Health and Disability

Just over 25,000 people in Somerset are in ‘good’ health despite a disability according to findings from the 2011 Census. Among the disabled population, younger people are most likely to be in good health: more than half (56%) of disabled children are in ‘good’ health compared to under a quarter (22%) of people aged 85 or over: www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/2011-census-analysis/how-do-people-rate-their-health--an-analysis-of-general-health-by-long-term-limiting-illness-and-deprivation/how-do-people-rate-their-general-health.html#tab-'Good'-health-with-a-disability--England-and-Wales--2011

Self-reported health is an important measure in accessing the health and social care needs of the population. However, the analysis highlights that the needs of those in ‘good’ health but who also have a disability can be overlooked, particularly where self-reported general health measures are used in isolation.

5.  Future of the Census

Following three years of extensive research and consultation, the National Statistician has recommended a predominantly online census in 2021 supplemented by the further use of administrative and survey data, which is hoped will also improve population estimates across the inter-Census period.

However, precise technical details have yet to be agreed, and costings won’t be produced for the Cabinet Office until later this year. It will then be for the Government and Parliament to determine the final arrangements. Of course, SINePost will keep you abreast of developments.

For more information, see the ONS website at: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/about-ons/who-ons-are/programmes-and-projects/beyond-2011/beyond-2011-report-on-autumn-2013-consultation--and-recommendations/index.html

6.  National Survey of Bereaved People (VOICES)

The Office for National Statistics has published local results (at Clinical Commissioning Group level) from the National Survey of Bereaved People, combining data collated in 2012 and 2011. The survey collects information on bereaved peoples’ views on the quality of care provided to a friend or relative in the last three months of life: www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/subnational-health1/national-survey-of-bereaved-people--voices-/by-nhs-area-team--2011-2012/stb-national-survey-of-bereaved-people--voices-.html#tab-Key-findings

The results cover the responses in three key areas: ‘quality of care’; ‘dignity and respect’; and ‘support for carers and family’. The statistics paint a generally positive picture for Somerset, with NHS Somerset ranking 41^st best of 211 Clinical Commissioning Groups in terms of overall quality of care.

7.  Wettest Winter

It is probably no surprise but provisional figures from the Met Office confirm that Somerset (based on the Yeovilton weather station) experienced its wettest winter period (December to February) since its records began in 1964.

In the three-month period, Yeovilton had 418mm (more than 16 inches) of rain. February’s total of 129.8mm was also the third highest recorded for any February but, curiously, it was also the fifth sunniest! Furthermore, the near-constant succession of weather systems did at least keep frosts and snow at bay and the winter was the fifth warmest on record.

For the full dataset, and that for many other parts of the UK, see http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/climate-historic/#?tab=climateHistoric

8.  Statistical Digest of Rural England 2014

The latest edition of Defra’s ongoing digest of rural statistics includes updates on infant mortality, earnings, private rent providers and poverty: www.gov.uk/government/publications/statistical-digest-of-rural-england-2013

Latest evidence includes:

• Infant mortality is on average lower in rural areas than urban areas.
• Average private rents are similar in rural areas to those in urban areas (excluding London).
• Annual average earnings are lower in rural areas, and are at their lowest in the most sparsely populated areas.
• The percentage of people living in relative and absolute low income is lower in rural areas than urban areas.

9.  National Park Population estimates

The ONS has released latest (mid-2012) population estimates for National Parks in England: www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/sape/national-park-population-estimates--experimental-/mid-2012/index.html

Previous estimates for 2002 to 2011 are also available, indicating that the population of Exmoor National Park has declined by around 4% in the last decade. This is the largest fall in population of any National Park; indeed most have seen increases in population (by an average of 2.4%). Meanwhile, over the decade the overall national population increased by 7.5%. Around 71% of Exmoor National Park is within Somerset.

10.  Non-Internet Users

An estimated 14% of adults in Somerset have never used the internet according to latest quarterly estimates (Q4, 2013) from the Office for National Statistics: www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/re-reference-tables.html?edition=tcm%3A77-300202

Due to the relatively small sample size for of the survey, the quarterly figures can ebb and flow somewhat, although over the last five quarters the estimate of non-users in Somerset has remained somewhere between 11% and 14% of the adult population.

Nationally, the proportion of adult non-internet users declined from 14.7% one year ago to 13.1% in the latest estimate. Key non-internet users are consistently older people (typically those aged over 65) and people with a disability.

11.  Forthcoming Statistical Releases

The following are due for release at sub-regional geographies during April:

• Sub-national health expectancies - Disability-free life expectancy - Subnational estimates for England, 2008-10 (ONS)
• Life Opportunities Survey - Wave Two, Part II (ONS)
• Life expectancy at birth and at age 65 by local areas in the United Kingdom - 2006-08 to 2010-12 (ONS)
• 2011 Census Analysis - Overcrowding and Under-occupation in England and Wales (ONS)
• Area Based Analysis - Conceptions Deprivation Analysis Toolkit, 2009-2011 (ONS)
• Crime Statistics - period ending December 2013 (ONS)

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