Census Area Statistics DVD Frequently Asked Questions
These Frequently Asked Questions are intended to assist you when using the Census Area Statistics for Output Areas DVD released in August/September 2003. If your query is not resolved, contact details for Census Customer Services are provided below.
Users are advised to regularly review these Frequently Asked Questions which will be updated with details of any new issues as they become known.
What's being published?
The Census Area Statistics are the most detailed Census results published for the smallest areas - Output Areas. Many of the tables are less detailed versions of the Standard Tables already published for wards and Local Authorities. Other 'univariate’ tables provide detailed information on a single variable. The results published from the 28 August onwards include tables for Output Areas, wards, Local Authorities and higher administrative geographies. Results are provided on DVDs in both SuperTABLE and CSV formats.
SuperTABLE format DVDs contain tables for Output Areas within a Government Office Region, plus comparable results for all wards and higher administrative areas in England and Wales.
CSV format DVDs contain tables for Output Areas within a Government Office Region, with a separate DVD holding results for wards and higher administrative areas in England and Wales.
Users are encouraged to request only the DVD for their region, where this fits their needs.
When were they published?
The CAS became available from 28 August region by region over a period of approximately two weeks. Each DVD in SuperTABLE format also includes CAS for wards and higher areas throughout England and Wales. Each DVD in CSV format will be accompanied, if required, by a second DVD with the CAS for wards and higher areas throughout England and Wales.
How can I get hold of the results/how much do they cost?
Results can be obtained in SuperTABLE or CSV format from Census Customer Services using the order form available HERE. There is no charge for a single copy of the results but users are encouraged to request only the DVD for their region, where this fits their needs. There is no need to order CAS direct from ONS if supply has been arranged through an intermediary organisation.
Are the Census Area Statistics available through Neighbourhood Statistics?
The 'Univariate' tables are available through Neighbourhood Statistics.
Where are the Univariate tables for Armed Forces, and same-sex couples?
These tables (UV81 and UV93) have been published for Local Authorities in the National report for England and Wales part 2 to be released in February 2004.
Are there some tables missing from the CAS in this first release?
The production and checking of 19 CAS tables (see HERE for list), all but four covering workplace or migration, were not completed in time for release from 28 August. They will be released in 2004 after the release of comparable tables in the National report for England and Wales part 2.
Copies of CAS supplied from 28 August will not include the 19 tables, but all orders will be resupplied with complete copies without charge, except where orders are for more than one complete set of DVDs or for multiple copies.
Is there a problem with CAS036?
The first set of Census Area Statistics released on 28 August contained an error in CAS036. The error was found after the DVDs were produced, and everyone receiving the DVD was informed of the error in a covering letter. A DVD containing a corrected version of this table has now been supplied to everyone who received an affected DVD. This error does not appear in any other release of this table.
Why were the Census Area Statistics for wards resupplied for Wales and the North East - is the data wrong?
The data is not wrong, but we can supply more detail than we initially provided.
The first set of Census Area Statistics released on 28 August, contained Univariate tables (that is, tables with an identifier beginning 'UV’) which related to wards above a threshold of 400 households and 1,000 people. Wards below this threshold were amalgamated to form areas above the threshold. More information on this is available HERE. These amalgamated areas are the same as those used in the presentation of Standard Tables. However, Census Area Statistics tables (including Univariate tables) are usually produced with a lesser degree of amalgamation. This means that the areas described in the UV tables in the initial release are not necessarily the same as those described in other CAS tables. A list of affected wards is available HERE.
DVDs containing the additional results have now been supplied to everyone who received an affected DVD.
I think that I have found some errors, how do I confirm this and find out if they have been corrected?
It is possible that some errors have been discovered on the DVDs since they were published. Any such errors will be noted in the Census product error log available HERE which is regularly updated. As well as explaining any errors, the log contains details of how the error has been corrected; how the corrected information can be obtained; and, where applicable, links to further information If the error log does not list the specific error you have found, please contact Census Customer Services using the contact details listed below.
Why can't I open CAST01 using SuperTABLE ?
The size of the CAST01 file means that some users are unable to open this file using the version of SuperTABLE provided with the first release of CAS for Output Areas. The version of SuperTABLE provided with CAS for Output Areas part 2 will open the file, and you can obtain this software, free of charge, from Census Customer Services.
Contact details National Statistics Customer Enquiry Centre
Government Buildings
Cardiff Road
Newport NP10 8XG
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