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In this issue ...
Individual profiles for all 138 electoral wards in Somerset are now available on the INFORM Somerset website. The profiles include data on population, ethnicity, deprivation, health & social care, school attainment, household composition and crime. Information is presented in the form of charts or tables and includes interactive maps of each ward boundary. Go to: www.informsomerset.org.uk (and click on the Community Profiles tab)
Latest annual results from the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) have been published, indicating the prevalence of ‘underweight’, ‘healthy weight’, ‘overweight’ and ‘obese’ children, in Reception Year (typically aged 4-5) and Year 6 (aged 10-11) in state schools: www.hscic.gov.uk/catalogue/PUB16070
In Somerset, the results show a slight increase in the proportion of obese children in Year 6 (up from 15.8% in 2012/13 to 16.4% in 2013/14), while the proportion of obese children in Reception Year also increased (from 9.1% to 9.4%). Obesity prevalence in Somerset continues to be below the national average at Year 6, and broadly in line with the national average at Reception Year.
National analysis continues to find strong positive relationships between deprivation and obesity in each school year. Obesity prevalence continues to be significantly higher in urban areas than rural areas.
Mendip has appeared as one of the top twenty ‘debt hotspots’ in England and Wales in figures published by Citizens Advice. The data identifies the locations where the highest proportion of the population sought help from Citizens Advice with a debt problem. See: www.citizensadvice.org.uk/index/pressoffice/press_index/press_20141204c.htm
The charity has also analysed how debt issues have changed since the start of the economic recession. Problems with consumer debt (such as credit cards and unsecured personal loans) have fallen significantly. In contrast, priority debt issues including rent arrears and council tax debt have increased.
West Somerset has the third highest rate of households with no access to mains gas of any local authority in England, according to latest estimates from the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC): www.gov.uk/government/statistics/sub-national-estimates-of-households-not-connected-to-the-gas-network
The proportion of ‘non-gas’ households within Somerset ranges from 18% in Taunton Deane to 47% in West Somerset. For Somerset as a whole, an estimated 62,000 homes are not on the gas grid. These households are therefore reliant on alternative (generally, more expensive) sources of fuel. Levels of fuel poverty are particularly high in West Somerset.
There have been continuing declines in overall gas and electricity consumption in Somerset. In 2013, total domestic gas consumption in the county was around 15% lower than five years earlier, while overall electricity consumption was around 3% lower. For further details, see:
Electricity data: www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/regional-and-local-authority-electricity-consumption-statistics-2005-to-2011
A number of factors are identified as contributing to these ongoing reductions, including milder weather, home energy efficiency improvements, changes to household composition, and increasing fuel prices.
Nationally, average annual domestic (standard credit) gas bills increased by £29 in 2014 compared to 2013, while average domestic electricity bills increased by £17.
A new tool from Public Health England brings together a range of alcohol and drug indicators for every local authority in England, against a backdrop of around 2 million adults in the country being dependent on alcohol or drugs. Information is presented through maps or data tables, within two sections, ‘Prevalence and Risks’ and ‘Treatment and Recovery’: http://healthierlives.phe.org.uk/topic/drugs-and-alcohol
According to the tool, Somerset ranks 31st ‘best’ of 151 local authorities in terms of the prevalence of opiate and/or crack cocaine users (OCUs), and 62nd in terms of the prevalence of injectors of opiates and/or crack cocaine.
There were 3,378 alcohol-related admissions to hospital in Somerset in 2012/13, placing Somerset 70th of 152 local authorities in terms of overall admission rates, and consistent with national average rates.
The Office for National Statistics has published updated rural-urban classifications for local authority areas, based on the results of the 2011 Census: www.gov.uk/government/statistics/2011-rural-urban-classification-of-local-authority-and-other-higher-level-geographies-for-statistical-purposes
According to the latest classification, Somerset’s population is 48% rural and 52% urban. A further 23% of the population is considered to be ‘rural related’, that is, living in towns which service rural communities (referred to as Hub Towns).
Overall, Somerset’s rural and ‘rural related’ population accounts for 71% of the county’s population. At a district level, Mendip and West Somerset are classified as 100% rural or rural-related; South Somerset is 72%; Sedgemoor 64%’ and Taunton Deane 41%. Nationally, 24% of the population is classified being rural or rural-related.
Updated factsheets including latest data and analysis on Somerset’s business demography, unemployment and employee earnings are now available. See:
Headlines include:
Further detailed data tables have been released from the 2011 Census for selected ethnic groups and countries of birth. Data has been made available by 5-year age band and gender, where confidentiality thresholds permit. See: www.nomisweb.co.uk/census/2011/small_population
Poland is the most common non-UK place of birth of Somerset residents. The figures reveal that migrant Poles are most likely to be in the 25 to 29 age group, with broadly equal numbers of males and females at this age. At older ages, men tend to predominate, while between the ages of 15 and 24 there are more Polish-born females than males in the county.
The following resources were added to the website during December:
The following are due for release at sub-regional geographies during January:
Please email TXAtkins@somerset.gov.uk
In 2011, 58,382 people in Somerset indicated that they provided unpaid care, of which 12,313 provided care for at least 50 hours per week. - 2011 Census