1. Beyond 2011: A rural perspective
Brian Wilson
22nd November 2013
ONS consultation event, London

2. Overview
Rural interests agree that a Census held every decade has its weaknesses
Some considerations are no different for rural and other (urban) interests
Focus on two particular rural needs:
- Parish level statistics
- Rural-urban definition
Key is the availability of small area statistics
Beyond 2011: a rural perspective

3. All parishes (of all sizes)
How small is small? Number of parishes within stated population size bands
Up to 149 residents
150 to 299 residents
300 to 499 residents
All parishes (of all sizes)
South Norfolk district 8 26 28
119
West Berkshire 2 12 59
Cumbria county
40 (data is suppressed now for 26) 50 74
283

4. Suffolk Parishes (in red) where no characteristics data is likely to be available under the administrative data/4% survey option
Parishes smaller than LSOAs or not matching LSOAs

5. Why does this matter?
Localism – more is expected of Parish/Town Councils and community groups
Neighbourhood Plans – statutory documents, where policies have to be evidence based
Key NP issues – housing (households, tenure) and economy (employment, travel to work)
Population Census – the one official data source at this geography (complete, trusted, comparable)
Other uses e.g. Parish Plans, community funding bids

6. Rural-urban definition
Rural = settlements with fewer than 10,000 residents
Splits into: rural towns (3,000 to 9,999); villages (500 to 2,999); and hamlets/dispersed (up to 499)
Calculated by matching Census Output Areas to settlement boundaries
National use – ‘rural proofing’ of policy making across Whitehall (a Government commitment)
Local use – targeting small settlements e.g. planning policies, business rate relief, reviews of school provision
May be resolvable, but need to clarify what would be possible and what would be lost
Beyond 2011: a rural perspective

7. Brian Wilson brian.wilson@sparse.gov.uk 020 8241 6343 www.rsnonline.org.uk