The Scottish Government

Group

Families and working age people

Definition/Source

The indicator is defined as the proportion of economically active people in Scotland who are unemployed according to the International Labour Organisation definition ("ILO unemployed"). This definition counts as unemployed those aged 16 or over who are without a job, are available to start work in the next 2 weeks and who have been seeking a job in the last 4 weeks, or are waiting to start a job already obtained in the next 2 weeks. Figures are taken from the Spring quarter of the Labour Force Survey.

Baseline Data

In 1999, 7.4 per cent of economically active people were ILO unemployed.

Trends over Time

The proportion of ILO unemployed people has halved since 1984.

Year

Percentage

1984

15.4%

1985

13.7%

1986

13.9%

1987

14.9%

1988

12.0%

1990

9.7%

1991

9.3%

1992

9.5%

1993

10.2%

1994

10.0%

1995

8.3%

1996

8.7%

1997

8.5%

1998

7.4%

1999

7.4%

Group

Families and people of working age

Definition/Source

This is made up of 3 low income indicators

a) A reduction in the proportion of working age people in households with relatively low incomes.

b) A reduction in the proportion of working age people in households with low incomes in an absolute sense.

c) A reduction in the proportion of working age people with persistently low incomes.

Low income figures for indicators a and b above are taken from the Households Below Average Income dataset. We intend to use indicators that show the proportion of working age people living in households with less than 50, 60 and 70 per cent of median GB income and less than 50 and 60 per cent of mean GB income (both before (BHC) and after (AHC) deduction of housing costs). Indicator a - relative low incomes - will track the proportion of working age people which falls below these levels of income each year with the median / mean income rising over time. Indicator b - absolute low incomes - will track the proportion of working age people which falls below these levels of incomes each year with the levels fixed at their 1997/98 values in real terms.

It is intended to develop Indicator c - persistent low incomes - over the next 2-3 years on the basis of the recently boosted Scotland sample in the British Household Panel Survey.

Baseline Data

The baseline figures for indicator a are drawn from the 1997/98 Households Below Average Income dataset using the Family Resources Survey. Because these figures are taken from a sample survey they are subject to sampling error. The figures in brackets may be less reliable than the others because of technical factors.

Proportion of working age people in households below various income thresholds, Scotland, 1997/98

% of Mean

% of Median

50%

60%

50%

60%

70%

Before Housing Costs

16%

24%

(8%)

15%

22%

After Housing Costs

18%

25%

(12%)

17%

23%

Trends over Time

It is clear that the proportions living at low relative income levels have increased substantially over time. For the population in Scotland as a whole, the proportion living at below 50% of mean GB income rose from around 10% in 1979 to 26% in 1996/97.

Group

Families and working age people

Definition/Source

The indicator is defined as the proportion of working age people (from specific groups) in Scotland who are in employment. These groups are (a) lone parents - where there is only one adult, and at least one dependent child in the household, (b) people from ethnic minorities, (c) people aged 50 or more, (d) people with a disability - which either affects day to day activities, is working-limiting, or both.

Figures are taken from the Spring quarter of the Labour Force Survey. This survey produces reliable estimates of groups containing more than 10,000 people. For example, this means that estimates for Scotland can be published for employment rates of ethnic minorities as a whole, but not for people from individual ethnic minority groups. In future years more detailed estimates may become available. This is because it may be possible to use the results of the Labour Force Survey together with information from the Scottish Household Survey. An increased sample size means more reliable figures.

Baseline Data

In 1999, 53% of lone parents were in work, as were 56% of people from ethnic minorities, 61% of people of working age aged over 50, and 38% of people with a disability.

Trends over Time

The proportion of employed people has remained broadly stable over recent years in each group.

Percentage of working age people in employment, for different groups

Lone Parents

People from ethnic minorities

People aged 50+

People with a disability(1)

1993

52%

46%

59%

1994

52%

55%

60%

1995

49%

54%

59%

1996

50%

47%

59%

1997

48%

53%

59%

1998

52%

46%

61%

36%

1999

53%

56%

61%

38%

Group

Families and working age people

Definition/Source

Measures for monitoring progress on the initiative to widen access to higher education to include all members of society have been developed as part of the work on performance indicators for the whole of the United Kingdom. This work has been overseen by the Performance Indicator Steering Group, which includes representatives from the Funding Councils, Government Departments and various stake-holder groups.

The figures are based on data collected by the Higher Education Statistics Agency and have been compiled by the Higher Education Funding Council for England on behalf of all UK Funding Councils.

Figures have been compiled for the proportions of all students eligible for funding at Scottish higher education institutions that are from:

• social classes III manual, IV and V; and
• low participation neighbourhoods.

Figures have been calculated for:

• Young (under 21) home full-time first degree entrants;
• All young home full-time undergraduate entrants;
• Mature (21 and over) home full-time undergraduate entrants; and
• Home part-time undergraduate entrants.

Social Class is based on father's occupation as reported on application for entry to higher education.

Low participation neighbourhoods are those where the participation rate of young people in higher education in 1997 was well below the UK average. These areas were identified in a UK wide study and the results linked to individual students through the postcode of the student's home address. It was decided to use this measure as a proxy for measures of disadvantage for two reasons. Firstly, the participation rates of neighbourhoods have been found to provide an ordering among the different neighbourhood types that has remained steady over a period. Secondly, it has been shown that areas that are considered disadvantaged also have low participation rates. Together, these results mean that the measure is informative, and appears to be stable over time.

Baseline Data

Base figures for the academic year 1997-98 will be published in December 1999

Trends over Time

These are the first in what is intended to be an annual series of indicators. They coincide with the introduction of funding aimed at widening access to higher education.

Group

Families and working age people

Definition/Source

The following five indicators will be used to measure the balance of care between institutions and the community.

a) The number of occupied beds in hospitals for people with earning disabilities. These data are available annually.

b) The number of people with learning disabilities in nursing homes. These data are available annually.

c) The number of people with learning disabilities in residential care homes. These data are available annually from Community Care Statistics.

d) The number of people with learning disabilities in unregistered supported accommodation. These data are available from Scottish Homes.

e) The number of places in day centres for people with learning disabilities. These data are available 3-yearly from Community Care Statistics.

Baseline Data

a) The number of occupied beds in hospitals for learning disabilities was 2,456 at 31st March 1998.

b) The number of residents with learning disabilities in nursing homes was 431 at 31st March 1998.

c) Figures on residential care homes are currently under revision.

d) This information will be available shortly.

e) Figures on day centres are currently under revision.

Trends over Time

The above figures are or soon will be available for 1998. Data for indicators a, b, and c will be available annually thereafter.

The data collection system for indicator d is currently under review and there may therefore be a gap in the time series.

Data for indicator e will next be collected in 2001.

Group

Families and working age people

This milestone is made up of 4 separate indicators, as follows

1 Reducing smoking

Definition/Source

Data are available from the 1995 Scottish Health Survey and will also be available from the 1998 Survey when data are published in the summer of 2000.

The 1995 survey showed that:

Baseline Data

• 40% of men smoked (34% of men were cigarette smokers)

• 36% of women smoked (virtually all of these were cigarette smokers)

Trends over Time

1995 was the first survey. Results from the 1998 survey will be available in the summer of 2000.

2 Alcohol misuse

Definition/Source

Data are available from the 1995 Scottish Health Survey and will also be available from the 1998 Survey when data are published in the summer of 2000.

Baseline Data

The 1995 Survey showed that 33% of men were drinking more than 21 units a week and 13% of women were drinking more than 14 units per week, these being the limits that were set out in the publication 'Health Education in Scotland'.

Trends over Time

1995 was the first survey. Results from the 1998 survey will be available in the summer of 2000.

3 Poor diet

Definition/Source

The 1995 Scottish Health Survey contains a substantial amount of information on diet. This survey was conducted amongst persons aged between 16 and 64 years old. The next survey will be for 1998 and results should be available in the summer of 2000.

Baseline Data

Not yet available

Trends over Time

Not yet available

4 Mortality rates from Coronary Heart Disease

Definition/Source

Death data are available for 16-64 year olds. Data are produced quarterly, the latest available being quarter ending June 1999.

Baseline Data

Not yet available

Trends over Time

Not yet available