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The Persistence of the Victorian Prison, 2021-2023
No full textTwenty-two thousand, or over a quarter, of the custodial population of England and Wales currently reside in 32 prisons with Victorian-era accommodation, and since most of these are 'local' prisons (i.e. holding those awaiting trial or sentencing), very few of the remaining sixty thousand will NOT have spent time in one. Media reports describe their continued operation as a 'scandal', and frequent calls to 'tear down the Victorian prisons' echo a 1922 report claiming that 'the only reform to which the buildings can be usefully subjected is dynamite'. A century on, despite politicians' frequent promises to close these outdated 'relics', they remain an integral part of the prison estate.
What are the implications of their continued operation? How can we understand the tension between the capacity of old buildings to carry (or not) new ideas and experiences, versus their capacity to carry the traces of their own past and the past lives they contained? This project asks how and with what implications Victorian-era prisons continue to operate despite their apparent obsolescence, and whether their operation should continue.
The 'persistence' of Victorian prisons means that despite being considered 'outdated' in the 1920s, many have operated for a further century, and their permanence is reinforced through numerous intertextual loops in the collective consciousness. Through multiple methodologies, this project traces the fabric, function, feel, 'framing' and 'fallout' of these prisons - the ways in which the buildings have changed over time; the influence of the buildings over prison management across their period of operation; what it was and is like to be incarcerated in these buildings over time, and the implications of their continued operation. What we mean by 'framing' and 'fallout' is the ways in which the survival of these buildings influences wider transformation in the prison estate, both in terms of potentially hindering broader progress in the contemporary prison estate, and influencing both contemporary design and construction processes, and notions of what prison should be 'like'.
In partnership with the UK's oldest penal reform organisation The Howard League for Penal Reform, this interdisciplinary project combines archival research, oral histories, discourse analysis of literary and media sources, interviews, creative methodologies with prisoners and staff, and a public engagement and co-production strategy - engaging both incarcerated and 'free' populations - to understand these prisons' material and conceptual solidity. A series of interactive multimedia exhibitions (both inside and outside prisons) builds cumulatively and reflectively upon diverse materials (e.g. archival records and photographs, oral histories, prisoner poetry and artwork), culminating in a conference addressing the critical policy question of the future of these Victorian establishments.
By tracing these prisons through time, the project critically reinterprets notions of obsolescence in the built environment, explores the UK's enduring cultural attachment to a particular (arguably archaic) material manifestation of punishment, and informs contemporary policy development around these contentious issues.
This project involved interviews with current and former prison staff who worked in Victorian prisons, and with people currently and previously incarcerated in Victorian prisons.Twenty-two thousand, or over a quarter, of the custodial population of England and Wales currently reside in 32 prisons with Victorian-era accommodation, and since most of these are 'local' prisons (i.e. holding those awaiting trial or sentencing), very few of the remaining sixty thousand will NOT have spent time in one. Media reports describe their continued operation as a 'scandal', and frequent calls to 'tear down the Victorian prisons' echo a 1922 report claiming that 'the only reform to which the buildings can be usefully subjected is dynamite'. A century on, despite politicians' frequent promises to close these outdated 'relics', they remain an integral part of the prison estate.
What are the implications of their continued operation? How can we understand the tension between the capacity of old buildings to carry (or not) new ideas and experiences, versus their capacity to carry the traces of their own past and the past lives they contained? This project asks how and with what implications Victorian-era prisons continue to operate despite their apparent obsolescence, and whether their operation should continue.
The 'persistence' of Victorian prisons means that despite being considered 'outdated' in the 1920s, many have operated for a further century, and their permanence is reinforced through numerous intertextual loops in the collective consciousness. Through multiple methodologies, this project traces the fabric, function, feel, 'framing' and 'fallout' of these prisons - the ways in which the buildings have changed over time; the influence of the buildings over prison management across their period of operation; what it was and is like to be incarcerated in these buildings over time, and the implications of their continued operation. What we mean by 'framing' and 'fallout' is the ways in which the survival of these buildings influences wider transformation in the prison estate, both in terms of potentially hindering broader progress in the contemporary prison estate, and influencing both contemporary design and construction processes, and notions of what prison should be 'like'.
In partnership with the UK's oldest penal reform organisation The Howard League for Penal Reform, this interdisciplinary project combines archival research, oral histories, discourse analysis of literary and media sources, interviews, creative methodologies with prisoners and staff, and a public engagement and co-production strategy - engaging both incarcerated and 'free' populations - to understand these prisons' material and conceptual solidity. A series of interactive multimedia exhibitions (both inside and outside prisons) builds cumulatively and reflectively upon diverse materials (e.g. archival records and photographs, oral histories, prisoner poetry and artwork), culminating in a conference addressing the critical policy question of the future of these Victorian establishments.
By tracing these prisons through time, the project critically reinterprets notions of obsolescence in the built environment, explores the UK's enduring cultural attachment to a particular (arguably archaic) material manifestation of punishment, and informs contemporary policy development around these contentious issues.</p
Millennium Cohort Study: Polygenic Indices, 2015: Special Licence Access
No full textAbstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.Background:The Millennium Cohort Study (MCS) is a large-scale, multi-purpose longitudinal dataset providing information about babies born at the beginning of the 21st century, their progress through life, and the families who are bringing them up, for the four countries of the United Kingdom. The original objectives of the first MCS survey, as laid down in the proposal to the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) in March 2000, were:to chart the initial conditions of social, economic and health advantages and disadvantages facing children born at the start of the 21st century, capturing information that the research community of the future will requireto provide a basis for comparing patterns of development with the preceding cohorts (the National Child Development Study, held at the UK Data Archive under GN 33004, and the 1970 Birth Cohort Study, held under GN 33229)to collect information on previously neglected topics, such as fathers' involvement in children's care and developmentto focus on parents as the most immediate elements of the children's 'background', charting their experience as mothers and fathers of newborn babies in the year 2000, recording how they (and any other children in the family) adapted to the newcomer, and what their aspirations for her/his future may beto emphasise intergenerational links including those back to the parents' own childhoodto investigate the wider social ecology of the family, including social networks, civic engagement and community facilities and services, splicing in geo-coded data when availableAdditional objectives subsequently included for MCS were:to provide control cases for the national evaluation of Sure Start (a government programme intended to alleviate child poverty and social exclusion)to provide samples of adequate size to analyse and compare the smaller countries of the United Kingdom, and include disadvantaged areas of EnglandFurther information about the MCS can be found on the Centre for Longitudinal Studies web pages.The content of MCS studies, including questions, topics and variables can be explored via the CLOSER Discovery website. The first sweep (MCS1) interviewed both mothers and (where resident) fathers (or father-figures) of infants included in the sample when the babies were nine months old, and the second sweep (MCS2) was carried out with the same respondents when the children were three years of age. The third sweep (MCS3) was conducted in 2006, when the children were aged five years old, the fourth sweep (MCS4) in 2008, when they were seven years old, the fifth sweep (MCS5) in 2012-2013, when they were eleven years old, the sixth sweep (MCS6) in 2015, when they were fourteen years old, and the seventh sweep (MCS7) in 2018, when they were seventeen years old.Safeguarded versions of MCS studies:The Safeguarded versions of MCS1, MCS2, MCS3, MCS4, MCS5, MCS6 and MCS7 are held under UK Data Archive SNs 4683, 5350, 5795, 6411, 7464, 8156 and 8682 respectively. The longitudinal family file is held under SN 8172.Polygenic IndicesPolygenic indices are available under Special Licence SN 9437. Derived summary scores have been created that combine the estimated effects of many different genes on a specific trait or characteristic, such as a person's risk of Alzheimer's disease, asthma, substance abuse, or mental health disorders, for example. These polygenic scores can be combined with existing survey data to offer a more nuanced understanding of how cohort members' outcomes may be shaped. Sub-sample studies:Some studies based on sub-samples of MCS have also been conducted, including a study of MCS respondent mothers who had received assisted fertility treatment, conducted in 2003 (see EUL SN 5559). Also, birth registration and maternity hospital episodes for the MCS respondents are held as a separate dataset (see EUL SN 5614).Release of Sweeps 1 to 4 to Long Format (Summer 2020)To support longitudinal research and make it easier to compare data from different time points, all data from across all sweeps is now in a consistent format. The update affects the data from sweeps 1 to 4 (from 9 months to 7 years), which are updated from the old/wide to a new/long format to match the format of data of sweeps 5 and 6 (age 11 and 14 sweeps). The old/wide formatted datasets contained one row per family with multiple variables for different respondents. The new/long formatted datasets contain one row per respondent (per parent or per cohort member) for each MCS family. Additional updates have been made to all sweeps to harmonise variable labels and enhance anonymisation. How to access genetic and/or bio-medical sample data from a range of longitudinal surveys:For information on how to access biomedical data from MCS that are not held at the UKDS, see the CLS Genetic data and biological samples webpage.Secure Access datasets:Secure Access versions of the MCS have more restrictive access conditions than versions available under the standard Safeguarded Licence or Special Licence (see 'Access data' tab above).Secure Access versions of the MCS include:detailed sensitive variables not available under EUL. These have been grouped thematically and are held under SN 8753 (socio-economic, accommodation and occupational data), SN 8754 (self-reported health, behaviour and fertility), SN 8755 (demographics, language and religion) and SN 8756 (exact participation dates). These files replace previously available studies held under SNs 8456 and 8622-8627detailed geographical identifier files which are grouped by sweep held under SN 7758 (MCS1), SN 7759 (MCS2), SN 7760 (MCS3), SN 7761 (MCS4), SN 7762 (MCS5 2001 Census Boundaries), SN 7763 (MCS5 2011 Census Boundaries), SN 8231 (MCS6 2001 Census Boundaries), SN 8232 (MCS6 2011 Census Boundaries), SN 8757 (MCS7), SN 8758 (MCS7 2001 Census Boundaries) and SN 8759 (MCS7 2011 Census Boundaries). These files replace previously available files grouped by geography SN 7049 (Ward level), SN 7050 (Lower Super Output Area level), and SN 7051 (Output Area level)linked education administrative datasets for Key Stages 1, 2, 4 and 5 held under SN 8481 (England). This replaces previously available datasets for Key Stage 1 (SN 6862) and Key Stage 2 (SN 7712)linked education administrative datasets for Key Stage 1 held under SN 7414 (Scotland)linked education administrative dataset for Key Stages 1, 2, 3 and 4 under SN 9085 (Wales)linked NHS Patient Episode Database for Wales (PEDW) for MCS1 – MCS5 held under SN 8302linked Scottish Medical Records data held under SNs 8709, 8710, 8711, 8712, 8713 and 8714;Banded Distances to English Grammar Schools for MCS5 held under SN 8394linked Health Administrative Datasets (Hospital Episode Statistics) for England for years 2000-2019 held under SN 9030linked Hospital of Birth data held under SN 5724.The linked education administrative datasets held under SNs 8481,7414 and 9085 may be ordered alongside the MCS detailed geographical identifier files only if sufficient justification is provided in the application. Researchers applying for access to the Secure Access MCS datasets should indicate on their ESRC Accredited Researcher application form the EUL dataset(s) that they also wish to access (selected from the MCS Series Access web page).SN 9437 - Millennium Cohort Study: Polygenic Indices, 2015: Special Licence AccessPolygenic indices (PGIs) aggregate Genome-wide Association Studies (GWAS) estimates across all measured single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to provide a single estimate of an individual’s genetic predisposition towards the trait under study. As such, SNPs can be considered as the building blocks of PGIs. It is important to note that the genetic predisposition represented by PGI is known inasmuch as it has been estimated accurately and reliably from a GWAS; not all SNPs are included in the GWAS or the GWAS estimates for a given SNP are inaccurate, then the genetic predisposition represented by the PGI will be lower than the true genetic predisposition.
The PGIs have been developed using a consistent methodology that has been applied to harmonised genetic data across each cohort, enabling researchers to engage in consistent cross-cohort analysis for using derived genetic measures for the first time. All PGIs have been derived from large scale Genome-wide Association Studies (GWAS) with publicly available summary statistics. This approach is hoped to enable and encourage wider use of the genetic data collected in these studies. High level guidance on the use and interpretation of PGIs is provided.
The PGIs were also developed in a consistent manner in a birth cohort born in 1946 (MRC National Survey of Health and Development, 1946c), which can be obtained by separate application to the Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing at UCL.Main Topics:Polygenic indices; polygenic scores; polygenic risk scores; genome-wide association studies; human genetics; anthropometrics; brain structure and cognition; health behaviours; mental health; personality; physical health; social outcomes.</p
1970 British Cohort Study: Polygenic Indices, 2016-2018: Special Licence Access
No full textAbstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.The 1970 British Cohort Study (BCS70) is a longitudinal birth cohort study, following a nationally representative sample of over 17,000 people born in England, Scotland and Wales in a single week of 1970. Cohort members have been surveyed throughout their childhood and adult lives, mapping their individual trajectories and creating a unique resource for researchers. It is one of very few longitudinal studies following people of this generation anywhere in the world.Since 1970, cohort members have been surveyed at ages 5, 10, 16, 26, 30, 34, 38, 42, 46, and 51. Featuring a range of objective measures and rich self-reported data, BCS70 covers an incredible amount of ground and can be used in research on many topics. Evidence from BCS70 has illuminated important issues for our society across five decades. Key findings include how reading for pleasure matters for children's cognitive development, why grammar schools have not reduced social inequalities, and how childhood experiences can impact on mental health in mid-life. Every day researchers from across the scientific community are using this important study to make new connections and discoveries.BCS70 is run by the Centre for Longitudinal Studies (CLS), a research centre in the UCL Institute of Education, which is part of University College London. The content of BCS70 studies, including questions, topics and variables can be explored via the CLOSER Discovery website.How to access genetic and/or bio-medical sample data from a range of longitudinal surveys:For information on how to access biomedical data from BCS70 that are not held at the UKDS, see the CLS Genetic data and biological samples webpage.Polygenic IndicesPolygenic indices are available under Special Licence SN 9439. Derived summary scores have been created that combine the estimated effects of many different genes on a specific trait or characteristic, such as a person's risk of Alzheimer's disease, asthma, substance abuse, or mental health disorders, for example. These polygenic scores can be combined with existing survey data to offer a more nuanced understanding of how cohort members' outcomes may be shaped.Secure Access datasetsSecure Access versions of BCS70 have more restrictive access conditions than versions available under the standard Safeguarded Licence.SN 9439 - 1970 British Cohort Study: Polygenic Indices, 2016-2018: Special Licence AccessPolygenic indices (PGIs) aggregate Genome-wide Association Studies (GWAS) estimates across all measured single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to provide a single estimate of an individual’s genetic predisposition towards the trait under study. As such, SNPs can be considered as the building blocks of PGIs. It is important to note that the genetic predisposition represented by PGI is known inasmuch as it has been estimated accurately and reliably from a GWAS; not all SNPs are included in the GWAS or the GWAS estimates for a given SNP are inaccurate, then the genetic predisposition represented by the PGI will be lower than the true genetic predisposition.The PGIs have been developed using a consistent methodology that has been applied to harmonised genetic data across each cohort, enabling researchers to engage in consistent cross-cohort analysis for using derived genetic measures for the first time. All PGIs have been derived from large scale Genome-wide Association Studies (GWAS) with publicly available summary statistics. This approach is hoped to enable and encourage wider use of the genetic data collected in these studies. High level guidance on the use and interpretation of PGIs is provided.The PGIs were also developed in a consistent manner in a birth cohort born in 1946 (MRC National Survey of Health and Development, 1946c), which can be obtained by separate application to the Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing at UCL.Main Topics:Polygenic indices; polygenic scores; polygenic risk scores; genome-wide association studies; human genetics; anthropometrics; brain structure and cognition; health behaviours; mental health; personality; physical health; social outcomes.</p
National Child Development Study: Polygenic Indices, 2002-2004: Special Licence Access
No full textAbstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.The National Child Development Study (NCDS) is a continuing longitudinal study that seeks to follow the lives of all those living in Great Britain who were born in one particular week in 1958. The aim of the study is to improve understanding of the factors affecting human development over the whole lifespan. The NCDS has its origins in the Perinatal Mortality Survey (PMS) (the original PMS study is held at the UK Data Archive under SN 2137). This study was sponsored by the National Birthday Trust Fund and designed to examine the social and obstetric factors associated with stillbirth and death in early infancy among the 17,000 children born in England, Scotland and Wales in that one week. Selected data from the PMS form NCDS sweep 0, held alongside NCDS sweeps 1-3, under SN 5565. Survey and Biomeasures Data (GN 33004):To date there have been ten attempts to trace all members of the birth cohort in order to monitor their physical, educational and social development. The first three sweeps were carried out by the National Children's Bureau, in 1965, when respondents were aged 7, in 1969, aged 11, and in 1974, aged 16 (these sweeps form NCDS1-3, held together with NCDS0 under SN 5565). The fourth sweep, also carried out by the National Children's Bureau, was conducted in 1981, when respondents were aged 23 (held under SN 5566). In 1985 the NCDS moved to the Social Statistics Research Unit (SSRU) - now known as the Centre for Longitudinal Studies (CLS). The fifth sweep was carried out in 1991, when respondents were aged 33 (held under SN 5567). For the sixth sweep, conducted in 1999-2000, when respondents were aged 42 (NCDS6, held under SN 5578), fieldwork was combined with the 1999-2000 wave of the 1970 Birth Cohort Study (BCS70), which was also conducted by CLS (and held under GN 33229). The seventh sweep was conducted in 2004-2005 when the respondents were aged 46 (held under SN 5579), the eighth sweep was conducted in 2008-2009 when respondents were aged 50 (held under SN 6137), the ninth sweep was conducted in 2013 when respondents were aged 55 (held under SN 7669), and the tenth sweep was conducted in 2020-24 when the respondents were aged 60-64 (held under SN 9412). A Secure Access version of the NCDS is available under SN 9413, containing detailed sensitive variables not available under Safeguarded access (currently only sweep 10 data). Variables include uncommon health conditions (including age at diagnosis), full employment codes and income/finance details, and specific life circumstances (e.g. pregnancy details, year/age of emigration from GB).Four separate datasets covering responses to NCDS over all sweeps are available. National Child Development Deaths Dataset: Special Licence Access (SN 7717) covers deaths; National Child Development Study Response and Outcomes Dataset (SN 5560) covers all other responses and outcomes; National Child Development Study: Partnership Histories (SN 6940) includes data on live-in relationships; and National Child Development Study: Activity Histories (SN 6942) covers work and non-work activities. Users are advised to order these studies alongside the other waves of NCDS.From 2002-2004, a Biomedical Survey was completed and is available under Safeguarded Licence (SN 8731) and Special Licence (SL) (SN 5594). Proteomics analyses of blood samples are available under SL SN 9254.Linked Geographical Data (GN 33497): A number of geographical variables are available, under more restrictive access conditions, which can be linked to the NCDS EUL and SL access studies. Linked Administrative Data (GN 33396):A number of linked administrative datasets are available, under more restrictive access conditions, which can be linked to the NCDS EUL and SL access studies. These include a Deaths dataset (SN 7717) available under SL and the Linked Health Administrative Datasets (SN 8697) available under Secure Access.Multi-omics Data and Risk Scores Data (GN 33592)Proteomics analyses were run on the blood samples collected from NCDS participants in 2002-2004 and are available under SL SN 9254. Metabolomics analyses were conducted on respondents of sweep 10 and are available under SL SN 9411. Polygenic indices are available under SL SN 9439. Derived summary scores have been created that combine the estimated effects of many different genes on a specific trait or characteristic, such as a person's risk of Alzheimer's disease, asthma, substance abuse, or mental health disorders, for example. These scores can be combined with existing survey data to offer a more nuanced understanding of how cohort members' outcomes may be shaped.Additional Sub-Studies (GN 33562):In addition to the main NCDS sweeps, further studies have also been conducted on a range of subjects such as parent migration, unemployment, behavioural studies and respondent essays. The full list of NCDS studies available from the UK Data Service can be found on the NCDS series access data webpage.How to access genetic and/or bio-medical sample data from a range of longitudinal surveys:For information on how to access biomedical data from NCDS that are not held at the UKDS, see the CLS Genetic data and biological samples webpage.Further information about the full NCDS series can be found on the Centre for Longitudinal Studies website.SN 9440 - National Child Development Study: Polygenic Indices, 2002-2004: Special Licence AccessPolygenic indices (PGIs) aggregate Genome-wide Association Studies (GWAS) estimates across all measured single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to provide a single estimate of an individual’s genetic predisposition towards the trait under study. As such, SNPs can be considered as the building blocks of PGIs. It is important to note that the genetic predisposition represented by PGI is known inasmuch as it has been estimated accurately and reliably from a GWAS; not all SNPs are included in the GWAS or the GWAS estimates for a given SNP are inaccurate, then the genetic predisposition represented by the PGI will be lower than the true genetic predisposition.The PGIs have been developed using a consistent methodology that has been applied to harmonised genetic data across each cohort, enabling researchers to engage in consistent cross-cohort analysis for using derived genetic measures for the first time. All PGIs have been derived from large scale Genome-wide Association Studies (GWAS) with publicly available summary statistics. This approach is hoped to enable and encourage wider use of the genetic data collected in these studies. High level guidance on the use and interpretation of PGIs is provided.The PGIs were also developed in a consistent manner in a birth cohort born in 1946 (MRC National Survey of Health and Development, 1946c), which can be obtained by separate application to the Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing at UCL.Main Topics:Polygenic indices; polygenic scores; polygenic risk scores; genome-wide association studies; human genetics; anthropometrics; brain structure and cognition; health behaviours; mental health; personality; physical health; social outcomes.
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Energy Follow Up Survey, 2017: Energy and Temperature Monitoring Data
No full textAbstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.The English Housing Survey (EHS) is a continuous national survey commissioned by the Ministry of Housing, Community and Local Government (MHCLG) that collects information about people's housing circumstances and the condition and energy efficiency of housing in England. The EHS brings together two previous survey series into a single fieldwork operation: the English House Condition Survey (EHCS) (available from the UK Data Archive under GN 33158) and the Survey of English Housing (SEH) (available under GN 33277). The EHS covers all housing tenures. The information obtained through the survey provides an accurate picture of people living in the dwelling, and their views on housing and their neighbourhoods. The survey is also used to inform the development and monitoring of the Ministry's housing policies. Results from the survey are also used by a wide range of other users including other government departments, local authorities, housing associations, landlords, academics, construction industry professionals, consultants, and the general public.
The EHS has a complex multi-stage methodology consisting of two main elements; an initial interview survey of around 12,000 households and a follow-up physical inspection. Some further elements are also periodically included in or derived from the EHS: for 2008 and 2009, a desk-based market valuation was conducted of a sub-sample of 8,000 dwellings (including vacant ones), but this was not carried out from 2010 onwards. A periodic follow-up survey of private landlords and agents (the Private Landlords Survey (PLS)) is conducted using information from the EHS interview survey. Fuel Poverty datasets are also available from 2003, created by the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC).
The EHS interview survey sample formed part of the Integrated Household Survey (IHS) (available from the Archive under GN 33420) from April 2008 to April 2011. During this period the core questions from the IHS formed part of the EHS questionnaire.
Safeguarded and Special Licence Versions:
From 2014 data onwards, the Safeguarded versions (previously known as End User Licence (EUL)) of the EHS will only include derived variables. In addition the number of variables on the new EUL datasets has been reduced and disclosure control increased on certain remaining variables. New Special Licence versions of the EHS will be deposited later in the year, which will be of a similar nature to previous EHS EUL datasets and will include derived and raw datasets.
Further information about the EHS and the latest news, reports and tables can be found on the GOV.UK English Housing Survey web pages.
The EFUS 2017 Energy and Temperature Monitoring Data study contains an anonymised subset of the data collected by the Energy Follow Up Survey 2017. The Energy Follow Up Survey (EFUS) is a large interview and measurement survey of household occupancy and heating patterns, thermal comfort and energy consumption over 2017 to 2019, with a particular focus on fuel poor households. EFUS represents a detailed follow-up to the English Housing Survey (EHS), although it should be noted that this subset does not allow for linking with EHS records. This subset contains half hourly energy metering data, and where available matching temperature monitoring data for different rooms in those households. Alongside the energy and temperature monitoring data this dataset also contains aggregated responses to household energy use questions in the survey, and basic characteristics of the household and home.The EFUS 2017 aims to provide detailed, up to date information on patterns of household and dwelling energy use. Within this survey, householders are asked questions about the type and usage patterns of the main and secondary heating systems in their homes, the water heating system and usage, dwelling insulation, lighting indoor temperatures and the use of appliances.
The EFUS 2017 was a follow-up survey of a sample of respondents from the 2014/15 to 2016/17 English Housing Surveys. In comparison to the previous EFUS 2011 (see SN 7471), the EFUS 2017 provided more detailed data on energy consumption, and the use of heating, hot water and appliances. In addition, there was a greater focus on the energy consumption and behaviours of fuel poor households.
The last large-scale national survey to consider the detailed use of heating systems and other sources of energy use in homes was the EFUS 2011 (see SN 7471).Data FormatsThese data are available in CSV and R '.rds' format; see the User Guide for details. One CSV download package is available, which contains both formats.Main Topics:Data covers patterns of household and dwelling energy use, including detailed information on the use of heating systems, cooking and appliance use in households.</p
English Housing Survey, 2023: Housing Stock Data
No full textAbstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.The English Housing Survey (EHS) is a continuous national survey commissioned by the Ministry of Housing, Community and Local Government (MHCLG) that collects information about people's housing circumstances and the condition and energy efficiency of housing in England. The EHS brings together two previous survey series into a single fieldwork operation: the English House Condition Survey (EHCS) (available from the UK Data Archive under GN 33158) and the Survey of English Housing (SEH) (available under GN 33277). The EHS covers all housing tenures. The information obtained through the survey provides an accurate picture of people living in the dwelling, and their views on housing and their neighbourhoods. The survey is also used to inform the development and monitoring of the Ministry's housing policies. Results from the survey are also used by a wide range of other users including other government departments, local authorities, housing associations, landlords, academics, construction industry professionals, consultants, and the general public.
The EHS has a complex multi-stage methodology consisting of two main elements; an initial interview survey of around 12,000 households and a follow-up physical inspection. Some further elements are also periodically included in or derived from the EHS: for 2008 and 2009, a desk-based market valuation was conducted of a sub-sample of 8,000 dwellings (including vacant ones), but this was not carried out from 2010 onwards. A periodic follow-up survey of private landlords and agents (the Private Landlords Survey (PLS)) is conducted using information from the EHS interview survey. Fuel Poverty datasets are also available from 2003, created by the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC).
The EHS interview survey sample formed part of the Integrated Household Survey (IHS) (available from the Archive under GN 33420) from April 2008 to April 2011. During this period the core questions from the IHS formed part of the EHS questionnaire.
Safeguarded and Special Licence Versions:
From 2014 data onwards, the Safeguarded versions (previously known as End User Licence (EUL)) of the EHS will only include derived variables. In addition the number of variables on the new EUL datasets has been reduced and disclosure control increased on certain remaining variables. New Special Licence versions of the EHS will be deposited later in the year, which will be of a similar nature to previous EHS EUL datasets and will include derived and raw datasets.
Further information about the EHS and the latest news, reports and tables can be found on the GOV.UK English Housing Survey web pages.
SN 9441 - English Housing Survey, 2023: Housing Stock Data contains data from the households who have taken part in both the interview and physical surveys, as well as physical survey data on a random sample of vacant dwellings identified by the interviewer. The data from the interview survey only are available under SN 9442 - English Housing Survey, 2023-2024: Household Data.Main Topics:The EHS Housing survey consists of two components.Interview survey on the participating household - An interview is first conducted with the householder. The interview topics include: household characteristics, satisfaction with the home and the area, disability and adaptations to the home, ownership and rental details and income details. All interviewees are guaranteed confidentiality and all data are anonymised.Physical survey on the housing stock - A visual inspection of both the interior and exterior of the dwelling is carried out by a qualified surveyor to assess the condition and energy efficiency of the dwelling. Topics covered include whether the dwelling meets the Decent Homes Standard; cost to make the dwelling decent; existence of damp and Category 1 Hazards as measured by the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS); Energy Efficiency Rating. The physical survey is carried out on the dwelling of a sub-sample of the participants of the interview survey. The sub-sample consists of the dwelling of participants living in private or social rented properties and a sub-sample of those in owner occupied properties. A proportion of the dwellings found to be vacant during the interview survey are also included in the physical survey.</p
Annual Population Survey Three-Year Pooled Dataset, January 2022 - December 2024
No full textAbstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.The Annual Population Survey (APS) is a major survey series, which aims to provide data that can produce reliable estimates at the local authority level. Key topics covered in the survey include education, employment, health and ethnicity. The APS comprises key variables from the Labour Force Survey (LFS), all its associated LFS boosts and the APS boost. The APS aims to provide enhanced annual data for England, covering a target sample of at least 510 economically active persons for each Unitary Authority (UA)/Local Authority District (LAD) and at least 450 in each Greater London Borough. In combination with local LFS boost samples, the survey provides estimates for a range of indicators down to Local Education Authority (LEA) level across the United Kingdom.For further detailed information about methodology, users should consult the Labour Force Survey User Guide, included with the APS documentation. For variable and value labelling and coding frames that are not included either in the data or in the current APS documentation, users are advised to consult the latest versions of the LFS User Guides, which are available from the ONS Labour Force Survey - User Guidance webpages.Occupation data for 2021 and 2022The ONS has identified an issue with the collection of some occupational data in 2021 and 2022 data files in a number of their surveys. While they estimate any impacts will be small overall, this will affect the accuracy of the breakdowns of some detailed (four-digit Standard Occupational Classification (SOC)) occupations, and data derived from them. None of ONS' headline statistics, other than those directly sourced from occupational data, are affected and you can continue to rely on their accuracy. The affected datasets have now been updated. Further information can be found in the ONS article published on 11 July 2023: Revision of miscoded occupational data in the ONS Labour Force Survey, UK: January 2021 to September 2022APS Well-Being DatasetsFrom 2012-2015, the ONS published separate APS datasets aimed at providing initial estimates of subjective well-being, based on the Integrated Household Survey. In 2015 these were discontinued. A separate set of well-being variables and a corresponding weighting variable have been added to the April-March APS person datasets from A11M12 onwards. Further information on the transition can be found in the Personal well-being in the UK: 2015 to 2016 article on the ONS website.APS disability variablesOver time, there have been some updates to disability variables in the APS. An article explaining the quality assurance investigations on these variables that have been conducted so far is available on the ONS Methodology webpage. End User Licence and Secure Access APS dataUsers should note that there are two versions of each APS dataset. One is available under the standard End User Licence (EUL) agreement, and the other is a Secure Access version. The EUL version includes Government Office Region geography, banded age, 3-digit SOC and industry sector for main, second and last job. The Secure Access version contains more detailed variables relating to:
age: single year of age, year and month of birth, age completed full-time education and age obtained highest qualification, age of oldest dependent child and age of youngest dependent child
family unit and household: including a number of variables concerning the number of dependent children in the family according to their ages, relationship to head of household and relationship to head of family
nationality and country of origin
geography: including county, unitary/local authority, place of work, Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics 2 (NUTS2) and NUTS3 regions, and whether lives and works in same local authority district
health: including main health problem, and current and past health problems
education and apprenticeship: including numbers and subjects of various qualifications and variables concerning apprenticeships
industry: including industry, industry class and industry group for main, second and last job, and industry made redundant from
occupation: including 4-digit Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) for main, second and last job and job made redundant from
system variables: including week number when interview took place and number of households at address
The Secure Access data have more restrictive access conditions than those made available under the standard EUL. Prospective users will need to gain ONS Accredited Researcher status, complete an extra application form and demonstrate to the data owners exactly why they need access to the additional variables. Users are strongly advised to first obtain the standard EUL version of the data to see if they are sufficient for their research requirements.Latest edition informationFor the second edition (December 2025), smoking variables were added to the dataset.Main Topics:Topics covered include: household composition and relationships, housing tenure, nationality, ethnicity and residential history, employment and training (including government schemes), workplace and location, job hunting, educational background and qualifications. Many of the variables included in the survey are the same as those in the LFS.<br
Scottish Cancer Patient Experience Survey, 2024
No full textThe Scottish Cancer Patient Experience survey asks about people’s experience of cancer care and treatment. It covers the following topics:
- Getting diagnosed
- Finding out about cancer
- Deciding the best treatment
- Operations, Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy
- Hospital Care
- Wider Support
- Information and Other Support
- Overall Experience
- Patients' Comments
The survey was conducted in 2015, 2018 and 2024. The data is cross-sectional.
The Scottish Cancer Patient Experience Survey 2024 was sent to a sample of people aged sixteen or over with an inpatient or day case record with any mention of cancer and a discharge date between 1st October 2022 and 30th June 2023. 4,540 people responded to the survey (response rate: 53%).This survey asks about people’s experience of cancer care and treatment.
The Cancer Patient Experience survey is part of the Care Experience Survey Programme. The programme supports three strategic objectives for both the Scottish Government and NHS Scotland – that care is safe, effective and person centred.
This survey is also one of the sources to monitor progress against the Scottish Government’s Cancer Strategy 2023 to 2033, specifically:
- Improved experience of services, across all areas of care.
- Optimised quality of life for each individual.
- Embedded research, innovation and data capture in all services.
The strategic overall intent for the Government for the period 2023 to 2033 is to improve cancer survival and provide excellent, equitably accessible care.
The Cancer Patient Experience survey is funded by the Scottish Government and Macmillan Cancer Support. The Scottish Government works in partnership with Public Health Scotland to collect, analyse and publish the data. Stakeholders from the Scottish Cancer Coalition are involved in the survey design and the recruitment of patients to test and improve the survey material.</p
Labour Force Survey Five-Quarter Longitudinal Dataset, January 2024 - March, 2025
No full textAbstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.Background
The Labour Force Survey (LFS) is a unique source of information using international definitions of employment and unemployment and economic inactivity, together with a wide range of related topics such as occupation, training, hours of work and personal characteristics of household members aged 16 years and over. It is used to inform social, economic and employment policy. The LFS was first conducted biennially from 1973-1983. Between 1984 and 1991 the survey was carried out annually and consisted of a quarterly survey conducted throughout the year and a 'boost' survey in the spring quarter (data were then collected seasonally). From 1992 quarterly data were made available, with a quarterly sample size approximately equivalent to that of the previous annual data. The survey then became known as the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS). From December 1994, data gathering for Northern Ireland moved to a full quarterly cycle to match the rest of the country, so the QLFS then covered the whole of the UK (though some additional annual Northern Ireland LFS datasets are also held at the UK Data Archive). Further information on the background to the QLFS may be found in the documentation.
Longitudinal data
The LFS retains each sample household for five consecutive quarters, with a fifth of the sample replaced each quarter. The main survey was designed to produce cross-sectional data, but the data on each individual have now been linked together to provide longitudinal information. The longitudinal data comprise two types of linked datasets, created using the weighting method to adjust for non-response bias. The two-quarter datasets link data from two consecutive waves, while the five-quarter datasets link across a whole year (for example January 2010 to March 2011 inclusive) and contain data from all five waves. A full series of longitudinal data has been produced, going back to winter 1992. Linking together records to create a longitudinal dimension can, for example, provide information on gross flows over time between different labour force categories (employed, unemployed and economically inactive). This will provide detail about people who have moved between the categories. Also, longitudinal information is useful in monitoring the effects of government policies and can be used to follow the subsequent activities and circumstances of people affected by specific policy initiatives, and to compare them with other groups in the population. There are however methodological problems which could distort the data resulting from this longitudinal linking. The ONS continues to research these issues and advises that the presentation of results should be carefully considered, and warnings should be included with outputs where necessary.
LFS Documentation
The documentation available from the Archive to accompany LFS datasets largely consists of the latest version of each user guide volume alongside the appropriate questionnaire for the year concerned. However, volumes are updated periodically by ONS, so users are advised to check the latest documents on the ONS Labour Force Survey - User Guidance pages before commencing analysis. This is especially important for users of older QLFS studies, where information and guidance in the user guide documents may have changed over time.Occupation data for 2021 and 2022 data filesThe ONS has identified an issue with the collection of some occupational data in 2021 and 2022 data files in a number of their surveys. While they estimate any impacts will be small overall, this will affect the accuracy of the breakdowns of some detailed (four-digit Standard Occupational Classification (SOC)) occupations, and data derived from them. Further information can be found in the ONS article published on 11 July 2023: Revision of miscoded occupational data in the ONS Labour Force Survey, UK: January 2021 to September 2022.2022 WeightingThe population totals used for the latest LFS estimates use projected growth rates from Real Time Information (RTI) data for UK, EU and non-EU populations based on 2021 patterns. The total population used for the LFS therefore does not take into account any changes in migration, birth rates, death rates, and so on since June 2021, and hence levels estimates may be under- or over-estimating the true values and should be used with caution. Estimates of rates will, however, be robust.Main Topics:The five-quarter longitudinal datasets include a subset of the most commonly used variables from the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS), covering the main areas of the survey
Connected DNA: Interview Data, 2022-2023
No full textThis collection consists of of 33 transcribed interviews with people directly affected by donor conception, gamete donors, donor-conceived people, and parents who used donor conception, focused on their experiences of direct-to-consumer genetic testing (DTCGT).
Rapid growth in online DNA testing platforms has created new ways for individuals to search for, discover, and contact genetic relatives, sometimes intentionally and sometimes unexpectedly. For those connected through donor conception, these technologies can operate alongside, or bypass, official information channels, raising practical, emotional, and ethical questions about identity, family relationships, privacy, and consent.
The interviews were generated as part of the ConnecteDNA project, which examines how people involved in donor conception use and are impacted by online DNA testing and what this means for support, policy, and regulation.
The collection documents participants’ donor conception backgrounds and prior approaches to managing information; motivations for using (or being affected by) DNA testing; experiences of sign-up and consent; reactions to results; interpretation and disclosure decisions; and the development of contact practices and “etiquette” with newly identified donor relatives. It also captures wider impacts on family dynamics, wellbeing, and sense of identity, as well as participants’ reflections on risks and benefits, desired forms of support, and views on governance—including how donor conception systems and DTCGT companies should adapt as genetic matching becomes increasingly common.
Overall, the collection provides rich qualitative evidence on how emerging consumer genetics reshapes kinship and information management in donor conception, and it can inform guidance, resources, and recommendations for stakeholders, policymakers, and affected communities.The growth in the use of direct-to-consumer-genetic testing (DTCGT) is having a major impact on sperm, egg and embryo donor conception (hereafter donor conception). Specifically, it creates difficulties in maintaining the anonymity of donors. DTCGT services include family history sites, e.g. Ancestry.com, and medical testing sites, e.g.23andme. Despite the different motivations people have for using these services, it is now easier to search and find donor relatives, with donor-conceived people, recipients of donor gametes and embryos, and donors all using these services to make hitherto unlikely connections. Some individuals have found large numbers of donor-siblings, while donors have been traced by their adult donor offspring. DTCGT can also reveal unexpected origins with the numbers of people finding out they are donor-conceived through DTCGT rapidly increasing. For example, one woman discovered she was donor conceived after using 23andme to assess her risk of breast cancer, an eventuality she had never anticipated when she decided to take that test. These discoveries often come at a cost, disrupting family life and relationships and exposing family secrets. This can lead to reassessments of family history and individual identity.
This project aims to examine the experiences and the governance implications of the use of DTCGT by those involved in donor conception. The focus is on the UK context but the project will have implications for practice in other countries.
This study is important because the use of DTCGT is growing rapidly without the corresponding development of good practice guidelines and governance structures. With the exponential rise in the use of donor conception and DTCGT, predicted to grow to over 100 million people worldwide taking tests by 2021, the ability to uncover donor relations will affect an increasing number of people. The first cohort of people born under non-anonymity will come of age in 2023 in the UK and be able to access identifying information about their donor through the HFEA Register. In light of all these factors, there is a pressing need for research on how people experience searching for and accessing information about their donor-conceived relations and what, if any, regulatory reforms are needed.
This is an inter-disciplinary project, drawing on sociology, socio-legal studies, family psychology and bioethics, using a range of theoretical resources from these disciplines. We will employ a variety of methods to explore the multi-faceted nature of the growing use of DTCGT: law; policy analysis; expert interviews; qualitative interviews with donor-conceived adults, donor and parents; interactive workshops; and ethical and socio-legal analysis.
This project will make a substantial contribution by producing the evidence-base that current provision, policy and regulation lacks. The findings will also be relevant to wider uses of DTCGT and the use of online health services more generally. The project will generate impact in three key areas:
1. Produce information and support materials for users of DTCGT: donor-conceived people, donors and parents; and those thinking of using DTCGT.
2. Provide practical guidance and support materials for professionals (clinics, counsellors) and DTCGT companies.
3. Make governance recommendations for policy makers and regulators both nationally and internationally.</p