Written Question · S2W-28951 · Session 2
What information it has about (a) why there is no data available for the NUTS 2 Scottish regions in relation to (i) population, (ii) employ…
The question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has about (a) why there is no data available for the NUTS 2 Scottish regions in relation to (i) population, (ii) employment in research and development, (iii) information and communication technology patent applications; (iv) biotechnology patent applications, (v) mortality through heart disease, (vi) mortality through accidents and (vii) dentists per 100,000 inhabitants in Eurostat Regions: Statistical yearbook 2006 and (b) whether any of this information is available and, if so, (1) in which categories and (2) why it was not supplied to Eurostat to allow the benchmarking of Scotland against its European competitors.
The answer
The Office for National Statistics(ONS) coordinate the supply of NUTS level data for each of the UK countriesto Eurostat. Some of the data used by Eurostat for their Regions: StatisticalYearbook were not available at the time of publication, although no specificrequest for data or a related deadline had been made in this context. The responsebelow relates to each of the statistical topics in the question referred to on acase-by-case basis:
(i)Population: The General Register Office for Scotland (GROS) supply any data requested by ONS for inclusion inUKfigures for Eurostat, within any timescale specified. Population data for Scotlandare produced on a different basis and by different statistical systems to thosefor England and Wales. Consequent methodological issues delayed the availabilityof a consistent UK-wide data set to Eurostat. Data for Scotland could not thereforebe used by Eurostat in time for the publication of the Yearbook. Steps are beingtaken to ensure better liaison between ONS and GROS and to find appropriate methodsfor producing data that is required by Eurostat on a consistent UK-wide basis.
(ii) Employment in Research andDevelopment. Data have been made available for the whole of the UK to Eurostatin time for publication. ONS are investigating why it was not included.
(iii) ICT patent applications.Eurostat calculated the figures for Scotland usingan automatic conversion from town/postcodes to NUTS regions. For some regions, theresults were very small or even next to zero, and therefore considered as not beingsignificant. Hence some English regions were also marked as data not available.Eurostat plan that the dissemination of very small figures (0.0012 or 0.0128) will,however, be improved later this year.
(iv) Biotechnology patent applicationsper million inhabitants. As the required population data were not availableto Eurostat in time for inclusion in the Yearbook (see (i) above), it was not possibleto provide derived indicators per head of population.
(v) Mortality through heart disease- male/female ratio aged 0 to 64. As the required population data were notavailable to Eurostat in time for inclusion in the Yearbook (see (i) above), itwas not possible to provide derived indicators per head of population.
(vi) Mortality through accidents– for men and for women aged 0 to 64. As the required population data werenot available to Eurostat in time for inclusion in the Yearbook (see (i) above),it was not possible to provide derived indicators per head of population.
(vii) Dentists per 100,000 inhabitants.Notwithstanding the problem with populations (see (i) above), area data on dentistswere not readily available in a format compatible with the EU’s official (NUTS)statistical geography.
(i)Population: The General Register Office for Scotland (GROS) supply any data requested by ONS for inclusion inUKfigures for Eurostat, within any timescale specified. Population data for Scotlandare produced on a different basis and by different statistical systems to thosefor England and Wales. Consequent methodological issues delayed the availabilityof a consistent UK-wide data set to Eurostat. Data for Scotland could not thereforebe used by Eurostat in time for the publication of the Yearbook. Steps are beingtaken to ensure better liaison between ONS and GROS and to find appropriate methodsfor producing data that is required by Eurostat on a consistent UK-wide basis.
(ii) Employment in Research andDevelopment. Data have been made available for the whole of the UK to Eurostatin time for publication. ONS are investigating why it was not included.
(iii) ICT patent applications.Eurostat calculated the figures for Scotland usingan automatic conversion from town/postcodes to NUTS regions. For some regions, theresults were very small or even next to zero, and therefore considered as not beingsignificant. Hence some English regions were also marked as data not available.Eurostat plan that the dissemination of very small figures (0.0012 or 0.0128) will,however, be improved later this year.
(iv) Biotechnology patent applicationsper million inhabitants. As the required population data were not availableto Eurostat in time for inclusion in the Yearbook (see (i) above), it was not possibleto provide derived indicators per head of population.
(v) Mortality through heart disease- male/female ratio aged 0 to 64. As the required population data were notavailable to Eurostat in time for inclusion in the Yearbook (see (i) above), itwas not possible to provide derived indicators per head of population.
(vi) Mortality through accidents– for men and for women aged 0 to 64. As the required population data werenot available to Eurostat in time for inclusion in the Yearbook (see (i) above),it was not possible to provide derived indicators per head of population.
(vii) Dentists per 100,000 inhabitants.Notwithstanding the problem with populations (see (i) above), area data on dentistswere not readily available in a format compatible with the EU’s official (NUTS)statistical geography.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S2W-28951 by reference.