The Inter Departmental Business Register (IDBR) is a structured list of UK businesses. The two main sources of input are the Value Added Tax (VAT) system from Customs & Excise and Pay As You Earn (PAYE) from Inland Revenue. Additional input comes from Companies House, Dun and Bradstreet and the ONS business surveys. This information goes to make up a statistical register comprising 2.1 million businesses, representing nearly 99% of economic activity. Analyses that are produced as part of this service are at the same level at which the business statistical surveys are conducted.

Data available
Data for local authorities is based at two levels:

• Business level
• Local unit (site) level

Variables available are:

• Reference
• Name
• Address
• Postcode
• Legal Status
• Employees
• Employment
• Classification - (SIC2003)
• Main county district ward

Note: on the local unit file male/female, full-time/ part-time split is provided where available

Legal Issues
Local authorities within the meaning of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 can have the following for planning and training purposes:

• Information protected by Statistics of Trade Act 1947 - disclosure permitted by Employment and Training Act 1973 - as amended by Employment Act 1988.
• Information protected by Finance Act 1969 - disclosure permitted by Finance Act (No 2) 1987.

Each GB Local/Planning authority can have data relating to its purposes: this may be its own area, or another area, or GB or UK. It would have to be necessary for their purposes. They would have to explain, in some cases due to the nature of the work they are planning, that they may need data for surrounding areas and/or their area.

• Disclosive data can only be released to authorised outside bodies (for further details please ask). Also, contractors working for government departments can have access to confidential data via the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994.
• Disclosive data can only be released to authorised outside bodies and contractors working for government departments.
• A form must be signed which confirms that:
• the data will only be used for the purpose agreed with ONS.
• the data will be kept secure.
• the data will not be disclosed to any third party without ONS' permission.
• legal sanctions against unlawful disclosure will be imposed.

Other Issues

Charges
Current ONS charges are £150 per district (plus vat if required electronically).

Timeliness of data
Data are taken from an extract which is taken from the IDBR in November of each year.

Release of data
Data can be sent as disk or CD. Disclosive data cannot be sent by email or fax because of confidentiality issues. Once data has been passed from ONS, it becomes the responsibility of the recipient. If confidential data is being passed to a third party under contract, then the ONS wishes to see all legal contracts before releasing the data.

Despatch of data
We aim to despatch the standard analysis within 2 weeks from confirmation of job.

Security
The physical security of the data will be maintained at all times. No disclosive information will be sent by fax or email. All data must be double enveloped and sent via Royal Mail Special Delivery or courier.

How to request data

• Name
• Address
• Telephone Number
• Email Address
• Description of data to be requested
• Indication if this submission follows on from a previous request

See access to ONS Microdata for information on the role of the Micro Data Release Panel (MRP) who review all requests for data of this type. A list of all bodies that have requested data since the MRP came into operation in April 2003 is also available.

For further information on Micro Data Release Panel please contact Laurel Bran 01329 813380 or e-mail: laurel.bran@ons.gov.uk

For further information on Local Authority data from the IDBR please contact Karen Ralph +44(01) 01633 455228 or e-mail: karen.ralph@ons.gov.uk or see the IDBR page.

This page last revised: Tuesday, 23 September 2008