The Scottish Government

« Previous | Contents | Next »

Listen

Appendix 1: Definitions and Terms

Rounding of figures

In tables where figures have been rounded to the nearest final digit, there may be an apparent discrepancy between the sum of the constituent items and the total as shown.

Chapter 1 - Background and results of SIMD 2004

SIMD 2004 Domains and Indicators

The domains and indicators used in the calculation of the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation 2004 are:

Current Income

• Adults in Income Support households ( DWP April 2002)
• Children in Income Support households ( DWP April 2002)
• Adults in Income Based Job Seekers Allowance households ( DWP August 2001)
• Children in Income Based Job Seekers Allowance households ( DWP August 2001)
• Adults in Working Families Tax Credit Households below a low income threshold ( DWP/ IR April 2002)
• Children in Working Families Tax Credit Households below a low income threshold ( DWP/ IR April 2002)
• Adults in Disability Tax Credit households below a low income threshold ( DWP/ IR April 2002)
• Children in Disability Tax Credit households below a low income threshold ( DWP/ IR April 2002)

Employment

• Unemployment Claimant Count averaged over 12 months of those men aged under 65 and women aged under 60 ( ONS 2002)
• Incapacity Benefit recipients, men aged under 65 and women aged under 60 ( DWP April 2002)
• Severe Disablement Allowance recipients, men aged under 65 and women aged under 60 (April 2002 DWP)
• Compulsory New Deal participants - New Deal for Young People and New Deal 25 plus not included in the unemployment claimant count ( DWP April 2002).

Health

• Comparative Mortality Factor ( CMF) ( ISD, 1998-2002)
• Hospital episodes related to alcohol use ( ISD, 1998-2002)
• Hospital episodes related to drug use ( ISD, 1998-2002)
• Comparative Illness Factor (based on 2001 Census data for General Health and Limiting Long Term Illness)
• Emergency admissions to hospital ( ISD, 1998-2002)
• Proportion of population being prescribed drugs for anxiety or depression or psychosis ( ISD, 2002)
• Proportion of live singleton births of low birth weight (<2,500g) ( ISD 1998-2002)

Education, Skills and Training

• Pupil Performance at SQA at Stage 4 (2001-2002)
• Pupils aged 16+ who are not in full time education ( DWP 2002)
• Proportions of the 17+ Population who have not successfully applied to Higher Education. ( UCAS 2000-2002)
• Working Age Adults with no Qualifications (2001 Census)
• Secondary Level Absences (2001/2)

Geographic Access and Telecommunications

• Drive time to GP
• Drive time to supermarket
• Drive time to petrol station
• Drive time to primary school
• Drive time to post office.

Housing

• Persons in households which are overcrowded (2001 Census)
• Persons in households without central heating (2001 Census)

Further information about domains and indicators can be found in the SIMD 2004 summary technical report at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/society/siomd-05.asp

Exponential transformation

We have selected the exponential transformation formula that gives approximately 10% cancellation. This means that in the extreme case, a data zone, which was, ranked top on one domain but bottom on another would overall be ranked at the 90th percentile in terms of deprivation (if the two domains were equally weighted). This compares with the 50th percentile if we had not used this method of exponential transformation but had used either untransformed ranks or a normal distribution instead. For example a data zone that came top in terms of Income deprivation but was bottom on the Housing Domain ( i.e. least deprived) would still be at the 90th percentile (top 10%) if these two domains were combined with equal weights. In fact Income is weighted more highly, which would further reduce the impact of the non-deprived result for the Housing Domain. We have constructed an exponential distribution, which has these properties, for each of the six domains, in a standard way. The exponential transformation means that the 'upper end' of the distribution i.e. the most deprived data zones will be the most discriminating part of the distribution, as desired. When we combine scores which have been transformed in this way we have constructed the slope of the curve to allow some compensation from a non-deprived score on a high score but have restricted this to 10%. This process is independent of data zone size.

Chapter 2: Demography

Country of birth

Classification of Countries from the 2001 Census are as follows:

Source: General Register Office for Scotland

http://www.scrol.gov.uk/scrol/metadata/topics/cultural/Country_of_Birth.htm

Chapter 3: Current Income and Financial Inclusion

Changes to the benefits and tax credit system

From April 2003 Child Tax Credit ( CTC) and Working Tax Credit ( WTC) replaced Working Families Tax Credit ( WFTC), Disabled Persons Tax Credit ( DPTC), Children's Tax Credit and Employment Credit 50+ (previously administered by Job Centres). In April 2004, the Child Tax Credit also replaced the child allowances in Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance and Minimum Income Guarantee/Pension Credit, existing recipients were transferred to child tax credits gradually. As a result of these changes from April 2004 the number of dependents on DWP (Department for Work and Pensions) records from income support and jobseekers allowance recipients is understated. The new tax credits are managed by HMRC ( HM Revenue and Customs), and matching the data on dependents for small areas from the two different systems has proved problematic. Once transition is complete, data on children in families receiving Child Tax Credit and out of work benefits will be available from HMRC and should provide a broadly similar indicator to the children of Income Support/Income Based Job Seeker's Allowance claimants.

Dependent children are defined as children under 16, or under 19 if they are in full-time education or enrolled on an approved training course.

Income Support ( IS) was introduced in April 1988 and is paid to a person aged 16 or over who lives in Great Britain, is not working 16 hours or more a week and has less money coming in than the law says they need to live on. This minimum amount is recalculated every April and October and is made up of a weekly personal allowance and weekly premiums which are only available to people with specific needs such as carers and the disabled. From October 1996, Jobseekers Allowance replaced Income Support ( IS) for unemployed people. IS is now only available to people who are not required to be available for work such as carers, sick and disabled people and lone parents.

Chapter 4: Labour Market

Differences between data from the Census and the Annual Scottish Labour Force Survey

Data for similar indicators such as employment, unemployment and inactivity from these two sources are different. The Scottish Labour Force Survey uses different groupings for variables such as age and level of qualifications to the Census. The Labour Force Survey is the official source of data on the Labour Market.

Employment

The number of people in employment includes all people aged 16 or over who are either self-employed, in full or part time employment, are an unpaid family worker or on a government training scheme. The rate of employment is calculated using the number of people of working age in employment divided by the working age population.

Unemployment

The number of unemployed people includes all people who are out of work; want a job; have actively sought work in the previous four weeks and are available to start work within the next fortnight; or out of work and have accepted a job that they are waiting to start in the next fortnight. The unemployment rate is the percentage of economically active people who are unemployed.

Economic activity

The economically active population are those who are either in employment or unemployment. The economic activity rate is the number of people who are in employment or unemployment as a percentage of the total population aged 16 and over.

The Claimant Count of registered unemployed people includes all people receiving Jobseekers Allowance ( JSA) and people who are registered as unemployed but do not receive JSA because they have not paid enough national insurance contributions. Whilst registered as unemployed the national insurance contributions of these people are paid. Job Seekers Allowance ( JSA) replaced Unemployment Benefit and Income Support for unemployed people in October 1996. It is payable to people under pensionable age who are available for, and actively seeking, work of at least 40 hours a week with some exclusions. In addition, the claimant must: be in Great Britain; be capable of work; not be in relevant education; be working less than 16 hours a week on average.

Incapacity Benefit ( IB) and Severe Disablement Allowance ( SDA).SDA was introduced in November 1984, claimants were aged between 16 and 65 when they made their claim and been incapable of work for at least 28 weeks. There is no upper age limit for receiving the allowance once it has been awarded. Since April 2001 it has not been possible to make a new claim for SDA. IB replaced Sickness and Invalidity Benefits from April 1995. It is paid to people who are assessed as being incapable of work and who meet the appropriate contribution conditions. Neither IB or SDA are means tested.

The New Deal for Young People ( NDYP) was introduced nationally in 1998 and is aimed at unemployed people age 18 to 24 who have been claiming Jobseeker's Allowance ( JSA) continuously for six months. At this six-month threshold, participation is mandatory.

The New Deal 25plus ( ND25plus) was also introduced nationally in 1998. It is aimed at unemployed people aged over 25 and up to state pension age. It is a mandatory programme for those who had been claiming Jobseeker's Allowance ( JSA) for at least two years. From April 2001 eligibility was extended to include those who had been claiming JSA for 18 out of the last 21 months. There are certain groups of people who are entitled to early access to the New Deal including ex-offenders and refugees.

The New Deal for Lone Parents ( NDLP) was introduced nationally in October 1998 and is aimed at economically inactive lone parents on income support, but is open to all lone parents aged 16 plus who are not in work or working less than 16 hours per week on a voluntary basis and who have at least one child under 16. The scheme helps and supports lone parents get into work.

Working age population

The working age population covers all men aged 16 to 64, inclusive and women aged 16 to 59, inclusive.

Source: Annual Scottish Labour Force Survey 2003

Definitions of occupational groups as defined by the Annual Scottish Labour Force Survey 2003

Managers and Senior Officials covers corporate managers and senior officials, production managers, functional managers, quality and customer care managers, financial institution and office managers, managers in distribution, storage and retailing, protective service officers, health and social services managers, managers in farming, horticulture, forestry and fishing, managers and proprietors in hospitality and leisure services, managers and proprietors in other service industries.

Professional Occupations covers science professionals, engineering professionals, information and communication technology professionals, health professionals, teaching professionals, research professionals, legal professionals, business and statistical professionals, architects, town planners, surveyors, public service professionals, librarians and related professionals.

Associate Professional and Technical covers science and engineering technicians, draughtspersons and building inspectors, IT service delivery occupations, health associate professionals, therapists, social welfare associate professionals, protective service occupations, artistic and literary occupations, design associate professionals, media associate professionals, sports and fitness occupations, transport associate professionals, legal associate professionals, business and finance associate professionals, sales and related associate professionals, conservation associate professionals, public service and other associate professionals.

Administrative and Secretarial covers administrative occupations: government and related organisations, administrative occupations: finance, administrative occupations: records, administrative occupations: communications, administrative occupations: general, secretarial and related occupations.

Skilled Trades Occupations covers agricultural trades, metal forming, welding and related trades, metal machining, fitting and instrument making trades, vehicle trades, electrical trades, construction trades, building trades, textiles and garments trades, printing trades, food preparation trades, skilled trades.

Personal Service Occupations covers healthcare and related personal services, childcare and related personal services, animal care services, leisure and travel service occupations, hairdressers and related occupations, housekeeping occupations, personal services occupations.

Sales and Customer Service Occupations covers sales assistants and retail cashiers, sales related occupations, customer service occupations.

Process, Plant and Machine Operatives covers process operatives, plant and machine operatives, assemblers and routine operatives, construction operatives, transport drivers and operatives, mobile machine drivers and operatives.

Elementary Occupations covers elementary agricultural occupations, elementary construction occupations, elementary process plant occupations, elementary goods storage occupations, elementary administration occupations, elementary personal services occupations, elementary cleaning occupations, elementary security occupations, elementary sales occupations.

Chapter 5 - Education

Record of Needs/Individualised Educational Programmes

A Record of Needs (RoN) is provided for a child who has "pronounced, specific or complex special educational needs which require continuing review". The RoN contains the child's details; the details of the parent/
guardian and "named person" (someone to represent them); an assessment profile; a summary of the child/young person's impairments; a description of the special educational needs arising from the impairments; a statement of the measures proposed by the education authority; the name of the school to be attended; a summary of the views of the parent/guardian; the date the record was opened and a summary of the reviews of the record; and a note of who is allowed to access the record.

Individualised Educational Programmes ( IEPs) are written plans setting targets that a child, with special educational needs, is expected to achieve. Targets should be limited in number and focus on key priorities of learning. They should be simple, clearly expressed and measurable.

Attendance definitions:

Attendance is defined as:

• Attendance at school (also includes educational visits, exam study leave, other attendance out of school and dental & medical appointments.)
• Late but arriving before 50% of opening
• Work experience
• Sickness with educational provision

Authorised absence is defined as:

• Sickness with no education provision
• Late and arriving after 50% of opening
• Family holidays authorised by school (only in exceptional circumstances)
• Exceptional domestic circumstances (authorised)
• Other authorised absence (includes weddings; bereavements; religious observances; attendance at court, Child care Review, Children's Hearing; lack of transport; sporting and cultural events etc not arranged by the school)

Unauthorised absence is defined as:

• Family holidays not authorised by school
• Truancy, including unexplained absence
• Exceptional domestic circumstances (unauthorised)
• Other unauthorised absence

Special schools

The definition of special school is set out in the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 as follows:

"Special school means a school making provision wholly or mainly for recorded children, and includes special classes forming part of primary schools or secondary schools".

The Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 is expected to commence from 14 November. This will change the definition of special school to:

"Special school means:

(a) a school, or
(b) any class or other unit forming part of a public school which is not itself a special school,

the sole or main purpose of which is to provide education specially suited to the additional support needs of children or young persons selected for attendance at the school, class or (as the case may be) unit by reason of those needs".

5-14 attainment levels

5-14 guidance states the following with respect to attainment target levels ( Curriculum and Assessment in Scotland, National Guidelines, English Language 5-14, June 1991, page 9):

The 5-14 attainment targets are based on the following descriptions of levels of attainment:

• Level A should be attainable in the course of P1-P3 by almost all pupils.
• Level B should be attainable by some pupils in P3 or even earlier, but certainly by most in P4.
• Level C should be attainable in the course of P4-P6 by most pupils.
• Level D should be attainable by some pupils in P5-P6 or even earlier, but certainly by most in P7.
• Level E should be attainable by some pupils in P7/S1, but certainly by most in S2.

Chapter 8: Access

Drive times to the nearest service were calculated from the population weighted grid reference of each Census output area. Drive time calculations are based on average travel speeds. Each of the road classes ( e.g. A roads or B roads) in the road network have an assigned speed, this speed is the average for that class. The average travel speeds on the different classes of roads are based on figures provided by the former Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions. There is currently no way of modelling for a reduced or lower than average speed at morning and evening peak periods.

« Previous | Contents | Next »