§ Mr. KidneyTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what indicators of housing need the ward-based statistics to be collected by the Office for National Statistics will include. [34931]
§ Ruth KellyThe information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from Len Cook for Mr. David Kidney, dated 12 February 2002:
As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary question on ward based housing need indicators. (34931)The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is currently leading the development of a web based Neighbourhood Statistics service which will provide a wide range of information about deprived246W
Table 2: UK employee jobs in manufacturing (seasonally adjusted) 2001 Levels Change over month Latest 3 months averages Change 3 months on 3 months one year ago Latest 3 months on 3 months one year ago (percentage) December 2000 3,896 — — — — January 2001 3,896 0 3,902 -117 -2.9 February 3,887 -9 3,893 -120 -3.0
neighbourhoods, including a number of housing needs indicators. The plan is to introduce this service by March 2004, but the core of the system will be the information that will be available from the 2001 Census of Population and Housing in 2003.A prototype of this system is available now on the ONS web site (www.statistics.gov.uk) and this contains ward-based Indices of Deprivation, 2000, compiled from a range of variables. This prototype will be enhanced during 2002.A number of housing needs indicators at ward level will be able to be derived from the 2001 Census data, including tenure, sharing, multiple occupation, overcrowding, number of rooms, basic amenities and vacant properties.ONS is also working with a range of other Government Departments and Agencies to develop a set of ongoing indicators, including housing needs, as part of the Neighbourhood Statistics Service. These will be introduced from 2004 onwards and will cover, affordability, dwelling stock, unfit housing and disrepair, and vacant properties.