HC Deb 20 February 1995 vol 255 c92W
Mr. Bells

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment if he will publish the index of local conditions on a constituency basis using additional indicators which have been used at local authority level.

Mr. Robert B. Jones

The Department published the index of local conditions in May 1994 setting out information drawn mainly from the 1991 census at three levels—local authority district, ward and census enumeration district. The index includes a range of indicators at the different levels reflecting the availability and robustness of data at the smaller scales. It is not technically possible to calculate the index of local conditions at parliamentary constituency basis using additional indicators which have been used at local authority level.

Mr. Betts

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the index of local conditions on a constituency basis using the seven indicators currently used at ward level.

Mr. Robert B. Jones

I refer the hon. Member to my separate answer today. The fuller analysis requested could be done by the Department only at disproportionate cost. However, the Department has an agreement with the London Research Centre to make available the data from the index of local conditions at a charge to cover the costs of any analysis requested. It is open to anyone to approach the London Research Centre to request extra analysis of the data.