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New datasets in the SRS
Schools Daily Contact Testing
This data is from a pragmatic cluster randomised trial in English secondary schools comparing the impact of a policy of weekly testing for COVID-19 followed by isolation of cases and their contacts, with a policy of weekly testing followed by isolation of cases and daily testing of contacts. PCR results data from Oxford University will be linked to two of the IQVIA datasets to assess the reliability of the lateral flow tests being undertaken in schools. There will also be two additional datasets from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) containing IQVIA data linked to the test and trace database.
Changes to BICS data
We are changing the way we supply Business Insights and Conditions Survey (BICS) data to researchers in the SRS. At present, BICS data (waves 1-41) are provided to researchers in the proprietary software’s SPSS and STATA, but moving forward, future releases of BICS (waves 42 and onwards) will be provided in open source 'csv' format. We are also working towards providing waves 7 to 41 in open format as well. This is to ensure that data is provided in the most accessible format for the majority of researchers, as well as creating standardisation within the SRS datastore.
For more information please contact the SRS Data Management Team.
Bitesize Session Survey
 We need your feedback
We are looking to produce a series of Bitesize Sessions that will enable you to receive on demand guidance and offer insight into ONS’ processes and procedures to help you navigate our services efficiently.
However, we need to hear your thoughts before we can move forward.
Please take less than 5 minutes to answer 3 questions.
The survey closes at midnight on 25 November.
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Events
23 November: ONS Research Excellence Series
The ONS Research Excellence Series is back on 23 November 2021 11:00 to 12:00.
We are excited to welcome Sir Richard Blundell from the Institute for Fiscal Studies for a virtual presentation on his award-winning programme of research ‘Informing policies to tackle inequalities’.
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Case Study of the Month
Data analysis in uncertain times: rapid working to adapt to research needs during a pandemic
The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in early 2020 created widespread uncertainty with unknown impacts on society, the economy, and the world around us.
As a result, the need for rapid analysis based on trustworthy data to be able to plan and forecast had never been greater. We have worked with our partners, Administrative Data Research UK (ADR UK), Health Data Research UK (HDR UK), and the Joint Biosecurity Centre (JBC), to lead the way in making high-quality data available for critical analysis through our Secure Research Service (SRS).
Read about this in more detail in the full report.
Dataset of the Month
The Office for National Statistics’ (ONS) Business Insights and Conditions Survey (BICS) collects data from businesses listed on the Inter-Departmental Business Register (IDBR), who are registered for Value Added Tax (VAT) and/or Pay As You Earn (PAYE). The survey responses are used for real-time decision-making, informing the strategies needed to respond to issues, such as the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the end of the EU transition period. Typical questions asked of BICS data include enquiries into:
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supply chains
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stocks
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trading status
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financials (e.g. turnover and profit)
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prices of goods or services
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net zero
The fortnightly survey samples approximately 39,000 businesses of various sizes representing a cross-section of UK industry and the economy. These include commodity production firms, construction, distribution, and non-financial services providers. Industries excluded from the BICS are agriculture, public administration, defence, finance and insurance, and public provision of health and education services.
The survey is continually updated and refined, as the kinds of challenges businesses might face arise. The flexibility to add new questions has allowed the BICS to respond rapidly to changing policy needs. As part of regular and ongoing quality assessment, the survey introduced new methods of weighting the responses from smaller businesses in August 2021. On the whole, previous findings remain unaffected, but there are revisions to estimates for some variables, including turnover, business resilience and proportion of staff on full or partial furlough.
If you would like to know more about the survey, please contact the BICS Team.
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