§ 12. Mr. Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh and Berwickshire)If he will review the quality of statistics relating to household incomes available in regions of low population density; and if he will make a statement. [41684]
§ The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Mrs. Helen Liddell)The Government statistical service collects a wide range of statistics on household incomes, which are regularly kept under review.
§ Mr. KirkwoodWill the Economic Secretary consider the difficulty of getting robust statistical data for constituencies such as mine in south-east Scotland? Sampling errors are significant in less populous areas. She follows these things carefully, so she will know that textiles, electronics and farming are all in decline in south-east Scotland. It is difficult to get a focus on what is happening because expenditure survey results are published only on a Scotland-wide basis. Some sub-regional statistics are susceptible to sampling errors. With the Office for National Statistics, will she consider doing finely targeted statistical surveys, even down to travel-to-work areas, so that policymakers trying to respond to the difficulties can be better informed?
§ Mrs. LiddellI am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for that question. In recognition of the need for better statistical data to support the Scottish Parliament, plans have been announced for a new Scottish household survey. It will be designed to provide a range of information on households in Scotland, including information on their incomes. Over two years, it will give estimates for each local authority area in Scotland. That may meet his point.
§ Sir Michael Spicer (West Worcestershire)If there is to be a review of sparsity data, will the hon. Lady ensure that there is fairness between England and Scotland? Will she take into account the fact that on most items of public spending, almost twice as much is spent per capita in Scotland as in England?
§ Mrs. LiddellThe job of the Office for National Statistics is to ensure that valid statistics of high integrity 1100 are available for policymakers and others to reach decisions. As part of that, the ONS has recently published a Green Paper to ensure the integrity of the statistical service in response to our manifesto commitment during the general election. The hon. Gentleman may want to argue about the various levels of expenditure throughout the United Kingdom, but those levels are based on need.