You asked
Please provide the following information:
1 - You collect names and address from the council tax register - explain further in detail what data you collect (all fields please) and how that data is used to "quality assure census 2021"?
2 - Why do you collect, and how do you use, contact details (define all fields please) for all those who have a National Insurance Number?
3 - Do those registered with Indeed realise that you are collecting CVs with names and address - do you have consent?
4 - How does the GP Register "Individual Records" (you don't define which fields - please do) support census 2021?
5 - How is the NHS Digital PDS record including NHS Number, Date of Birth and Postcode used to support Census 2021? An individual can opt out of having a PDS record widely available. It directly impacts direct care by doing so. Does that NHS PDS Opt out prevent NHS Digital sharing the data with ONS?
We said
Thank you for your request.
In order to support its strategy "Statistics for the public good," ONS collects data from the administrative sources detailed in the link you shared. We only obtain data when there is a clear legal basis for us to do so, including via the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007, the Digital Economy Act 2017, and in compliance with all other relevant legislation (including the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018). Whenever we collect administrative data, we ensure the request is proportionate to our research objectives, and for the public good. Most importantly, the data is kept in a safe and secure environment and we do not use any data obtained to identify individuals. ONS research outputs are always made available publicly and transparently.
1 - You collect names and address from the council tax register - explain further in detail what data you collect (all fields please) and how that data is used to "quality assure census 2021"?
- ONS does not collect contact details at the individual level for analysis purposes, but only when these can help match information in different datasets (see the answer to question 2 for additional detail). Conducting a Census is incredibly challenging and, in order to ensure that Census statistics are as accurate as possible, ONS compares against a number of alternative sources. Council Tax data helps us understand the number of households and vacant properties there are in a local area at a street level. By using alternative data sources such as Council Tax data, ONS can understand where the number of Census returns in a local area is lower than would be expected and focus the limited resources of our operational teams on these areas, as well as correcting for any discrepancies using statistical methods.
The full list of data fields provided by Local Authorities to ONS is listed below.
- Variable name | Variable description
- UPRN | Unique Property Reference Number
- LAD | Supplying local authority district
- PUR | Property Unique Reference
- company_name | Company/organisation or exors name
- first_name_pml | First name of primary liable party
- middle_names_pml | Middle name/names of primary liable party
- surname_pml | Surname of Primary Liable Party
- full_name | Full name of parties classed as liable or otherwise for CT
- Address_line | Address lines
- postcode | Postcode
- ct_band | Council tax band
- prov_band_flag | Provisional band
- dbr | Disabled band reduction
- annual_cost | Annual council tax band cost / rate (exclusive of discounts)
- ctr_paid_flag | Any council tax reduction paid to any current liable parties.
- ct_reduction | Council Tax Reduction
- liability_date | Current liability date
- exempt_flag | Exemption flag
- exempt_type | Exemption type
- exempt_date | Date exemption applied
- discount_flag | Discount flag
- discount_type_1 | Discount type 1
- discount_value_1 | Discount value 1
- discount_type_2 | Discount type 2
- discount_value_2 | Discount value 2
- discount_date_1 | Date discount type 1 applied
- discount_date_2 | Date discount type 2 applied
- disregard_flag | Disregards flag
- disregard_type | Disregards type
- premium | Premiums applied
- premium_date | Date premiums applied
- empty_second | Empty or Second homes
- empty_second_date | Empty or second homes date
- penalty_issued | Penalty Issued
- penalty_date | Penalty date
- scotland_water | Scotland water rates
- scotland_sewage | Scotland sewage rates
- scotland_water_reduction | Scotland water rates reduction
- scotland_sewage_reduction | Scotland sewage rates reduction
These three data fields have also been provided by LAs and are currently under review.
- account_ref_num | Account Reference Number
- ct_paid | Council tax paid
- ct_paid_date | Date of council tax paid
2 - Why do you collect, and how do you use, contact details (define all fields please) for all those who have a National Insurance Number?
- ONS does not collect contact details at the individual level for analysis purposes. To minimise the onus of data collection using surveys and other sources, we collect details like names, date of birth and addresses so that we can link existing datasets where these variables are already included. After linkage is completed by a small team in our secure environment, we encrypt personally identifiable information so that individuals cannot be identified.
3 - Do those registered with Indeed realise that you are collecting CVs with names and address - do you have consent?
- ONS does not collect CV data. In 2018, ONS run a pilot to understand whether there was an analytical use for the type of data contained in CV databases. We looked at approximately 50 CVs scraped from Indeed's website to conduct a feasibility assessment. As a result of our assessment, we decided not to pursue this analysis and deleted the data.
4 - How does the GP Register "Individual Records" (you don't define which fields - please do) support census 2021?
5 - How is the NHS Digital PDS record including NHS Number, Date of Birth and Postcode used to support Census 2021.
In answer to both your question (4) and (5), NHS Patient Register and Personal Demographic Service data is used by ONS to form the basis of several important National Statistics. These outputs include population estimates used extensively by local government, central government and charities to help them understand the need for important public services in local areas. This data is helping to support Census 2021 by providing ONS with an alternative source of data on the population against which we can then compare the results received through the Census, and this helps us understand whether these results are accurate, as described here. This ensures that the Census statistics we produce are as accurate as possible, which is crucial considering the wide range of important decisions which will be made for years to come based upon Census statistics.
This data includes basic identifiable information such as name and address which helps ONS to securely and accurately link to additional data sources for statistical purposes, such as the Census.
An individual can opt out of having a PDS record widely available. It directly impacts direct care by doing so. Does that NHS PDS Opt out prevent NHS Digital sharing the data with ONS?
- As per NHS Digital's privacy notice, you have a choice on whether or not your confidential patient information can be used for purposes beyond your individual care and treatment. There are a number of situations in which this choice applies and there are some situations where your choice does not apply and your confidential patient information may still be used. This includes when it is required by law, when you have given your consent, when there is overriding public interest, when information that can identify you is removed, or when there is a specific exclusion. These exclusions are listed in NHS Digital's privacy notice and include when information is given to the Office for National Statistics for official statistics, like the Population Census.