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Scottish Economic Statistics 2002

chapter six: Sub-Scotland economic data

Introduction

In the past the range of available good quality detailed economic information at a sub-Scotland level has been fairly limited. This is mainly due to the fact that many of the surveys that are used to obtain this type of information were originally designed to provide a UK picture and were therefore not specifically designed to provide a sufficient Scottish sample at the required local level.

This chapter presents some of the data which have already been made available;

• GDP at current prices, local areas in Scotland
• Stock of VAT Registered Enterprises
• Distribution of Scottish Tourism
• Employment status, local authorities
• Claimants of Working Age of Key Benefits
• Council Tax
• Health Board Revenue and Capital Expenditure

There is still a long way to go, and the gaps in sub-Scotland data are being addressed by various means. These include the commissioning of a Scottish "boost" to existing UK surveys, for example the Annual Business Inquiry, and the development of specific Scottish surveys such as the Scottish Household survey. In addition, the Scottish Executive is taking forward a major neighbourhood statistics initiative to improve the range of small area estimates available for Scotland.

Neighbourhood Statistics

The UK National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal, (Policy Action Team 18 (PAT18)) proposed the development of a system of neighbourhood statistics and made a number of other recommendations on production and sharing of data as an essential contribution to tackling social exclusion at the local level.

The Scottish intention is to create a comprehensive set of Neighbourhood statistics in line with the PAT 18 proposals. In partnership with Local Authorities and other organisations, the Scottish Executive will;

• Bring together in a single system information from a wide range of sources on health, education, poverty, unemployment, housing, population, equalities and social/community characteristics.
• Implement a system of geographical referencing which will allow information to be aggregated into any area.
• Use data from existing central and local administrative sources, and develop cost effective ways of filling gaps.
• Disseminate the information electronically and in ways that are accessible to a wide range of users.
• Support and involve users, particularly at the local level
• Ensure quality, safeguard privacy and prevent misuse.

The Scottish Executive is working closely with the UK's Neighbourhood Statistics development. Consistency and integration of both input and output process is being pursued where appropriate. Joint working will be established on issues of common concern, for example on Data Protection issues and outputs from UK departments such as the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). However the programme will be managed within the Scottish Executive. This will ensure that;

• The different Scottish administrative systems and organisational structures can be taken fully into account.
• Different data development priorities can be reflected
• We can build on and reinforce existing expertise and user/provider links within Scotland, thereby avoiding duplication and making it easier for existing user/providers.

An example of one particular area's progress on Neighbourhood Statistics is included below.

Cities Review

This review is concerned with the ways in which cities and city regions affect social and economic development and how they relate to the core objectives of the Executive. Changing patterns, problems and prospects will be described and the possibilities of changing the policy interventions which affect them considered. The objective is to set the future policy agenda and indicate broad routes to change for Scotland's cities.

This review is considering 5 cities - Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness. Maps are included showing each of the cities divided into wards highlighting those wards with the highest unemployment levels (in the worst 20%) in Scotland.

Map 2a: Five Scottish Cities indicating the wards with the highest levels of unemployment estimates in Scotland

Map 2: Assisted Areas Map for Scotland 2000-2006

Map 2b: Five Scottish Cities indicating the wards with the highest levels of unemployment estimates in Scotland

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