1. Data Zones - Consultation Euan Smith Small Area Stats 5 th October 2010

2. Outline Presentation – 20 minutes: –Background to data zones –Issues –Consultation Options –Proposed Solution Q&A – 5-10 minutes Group discussion – 15 minutes

3. Background Static geography introduced in 2004 Built up from 2001 Census Output Areas Core small areas stats geography Used as building blocks for higher level geographies

4. Criteria Equality of population, 500-1,000 people Compactness of shape Homogeneity of social composition Existence, of some community of interest Accordance with other boundaries of local significance Accordance with prominent features in the physical environment

5. Main Uses Scottish Government: –SNS –SIMD –Urban/Rural classification Other: –Local performance monitoring –Resource allocation –Funding bids –Research

6. Problems Population Change Boundary Changes Postcode Drift Loss of Social Homogeneity

7. Population Change

9. Boundary Changes

10. Postcode Drift

12. Social Homogeneity

13. Consultation 3 Main Options: –Maintain existing boundaries –Split/merge existing data zones –Redraw Other Issues: –Census Output Areas –Timing –Future Reviews

14. Maintain Existing Boundaries Pros: –Static boundaries are a stated aim of data zones –No discontinuities due to boundary changes Cons: –Disclosure problems where populations shrink –Population growth means that many data zones are now over our target population –Data zones assigned to higher level geographies on a best-fit basis, rather than exact match

15. Splitting/Merging Boundaries Pros: –Standard populations –Allows comparison over time by combining data zones –Potentially no changes to Intermediate Zones Cons –Discontinuities for some statistical outputs –Still leaves the problem of aligning to higher level geographies

16. Redrawing boundaries Pros: –Aligns to higher and lower level geographies –Aligns to locally recognised boundaries –Standard populations Cons: –Discontinuities –Potential for disclosure by differencing prevents both sets of boundaries being ran simultaneously

17. Proposed Solution Mostly split/merge Redraw where LA boundaries have changed Still undecided on 2011 Census Output Areas Based on 2011 Population Census results: –Start work late 2012 –With finalised data zone boundaries available mid-2013

18. Q&A

19. Group Discussion Are any of these options unfeasible? What would your proposed solution be?