Transcript Document
Harmonisation Explained
Introduction
The Next few slides will explain; • What is harmonisation? • Who are the Harmonisation Team?
• Why Harmonise?
• Governance of Harmonisation • The difference between Primary and Secondary standards • What sub topic groups have been formed • Our achievements • The next steps
What is Harmonisation
Harmonisation is a cross-governmental programme of work. It aims to standardise statistical inputs and outputs, making it easier for users to draw clearer and more robust comparisons between data sources. This process is managed for the Government Statistical Service (GSS) by the National Statistical Harmonisation Group (NSHG).
The Harmonisation Team
Tricia Dodd Jan Thomas Becki Aquilina & Palvi Shah Mark Herniman
Harmonisation – Why Standardise?
• • • • • • •
Drivers for Harmonisation Legislation -
Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 – Section 9 (1) The Board is to — (a) develop and maintain definitions, methodologies, classifications and standards for official statistics, and (b) promote their use in relation to official statistics.
EU Compliance
- standard classifications are required by the EU for such as NACE Revision 2 (UKSIC 2007) Regulation (EC) 1893/2006 Article 4.
Data quality
reduce avoidable differences in outputs
Comparability -
integration. - Standard output classifications can be used to for cross survey/country analysis and
Integration
- Consistent classifications will enable the comparison of statistical products.
Dissemination Equalities Data Review
findings
Governance of Harmonisation
• NSHG Topic Groups
report to
• The NSHG
which reports to
• The Government Statistical Service, Statistical Policy and Standards Committee (GSS SPSC)
who report to
• The Heads of Profession (HoPs)
Primary Standards;
• Are used on all, or nearly all major Government social surveys • They are a standard means of collecting information
Primary Standards
PRIMARY SET OF HARMONISED CONCEPTS & QUESTIONS
DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION, HOUSHOLD COMPOSITION AND RELATIONSHIPS (INC AGE, SEX AND CIVIL PARTNERSHIP STATUS) ETHNIC GROUP ECONOMIC STATUS AND OCCUPATION GENERAL HEALTH AND CARERS LONG-LASTING HEALTH CONDITIONS AND ILLNESSES OTHER PRIMARY STANDARDS (Inc Survey Reference Periods, Geography, Educational Attainment, Tenure and Mobile Phone Users)
Secondary Standards;
• Are used on selected group of surveys • Are survey specific and generally contain more detail
Secondary Standards
SECONDARY SET OF HARMONISED CONCEPTS & QUESTIONS
ACCOMODATION AND HOUSEHOLD INFORMATION BENEFITS & TAX CREDITS CONSUMER DURABLES CRIME AND FEAR OF CRIME HOUSING COSTS AND BENEFIT INCOME INTERNET ACCESS NATIONAL IDENTITY & RELIGION SELECTED JOB DETAILS SOCIAL CAPITAL SEXUAL IDENTITY OTHER SECONDARY STANDARDS
Difficulties and Challenges
• Quality Assurance procedures • Different methods of data collection may require different standard questions • Conflicting priorities across Other Government Department’s (OGDs) • The ‘encouragement’ of uptake of standards across the Government Statistical Service (GSS) • Harmonisation across UK (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales)
Topic Groups
• Benefits and Tax Credits • Classifications • Consumer Durables • Country of Birth (COB), Migration and Citizenship • Crime, Anti-Social Behaviour and Social Capital • Demographic Information • Health, Disability and Carers • Economic Activity • Education • Ethnicity, Identity, Language and Religion (EILR) – Inc Sexual Identity • Housing and Tenure • Income • Pensions
Why it is Important to Review the Standards?
• To ensure that standards are still relevant • To develop and promote further standards • To ensure there are no question overlap(s) • To accommodate changes in society (Civil Partnership for example) • To take note of new Government legislation and initiatives (changes to benefits for example) • And to ensure standards are fit for purpose and meet user needs
Achievements to Date
• Successful Annual Workshops with stakeholders from across the GSS • The formulation of 13 Sub topic groups • Update of the ‘Harmonisation’ web pages • Production of an A-Z quick reference guide • General Health, Ethnic Group, National Identity & Religion, Consumer Durables, Economic Activity, Accommodation & Household Information, Tenure, Housing Cost & Benefit and Demographic Information Harmonised Standards fully revised and published.
• A new standard, Long-lasting Health Conditions and Illnesses, has been published.
Next Steps, to be Considered………
• Benefits & Tax Credits – review of Harmonised Standard • Education – review of Harmonised Standard • Harmonisation of Alcohol Consumption • Harmonisation of NEETs • Working towards preparations for assessment • Harmonisation of administrative data • Business surveys harmonisation • Pro-activity and communications
For more information about Harmonisation
Please visit our web pages;
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide method/harmonisation/harmonisation programme/index.html