As forecast, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has opened a consultation on axing some of its statistical products, including:
- General Lifestyle Reports (Smoking and Drinking; General Health; Households, Families and People; and Marriage and Cohabitation) and associated data
- annual statistical bulletin on Alcohol related deaths in the United Kingdom
- Decennial Analysis of social inequality in alcohol related causes of death by NS-SEC and sex
The ONS needs to save £9 million over the next two years. The consultation questionnaire lists each option for saving and asks about the impact these possible reductions could have on you and your work. A pdf version of the questionnaire is provided for information and discussion purposes. Responses should be submitted via the online questionnaire by 31st October 2013.
The General Household Survey/Lifestyle Report is an important source for monitoring trends in alcohol consumption, annually released since 1971. Drinking data from the Survey are widely used by universities and health organisations. The Public Health Observatories (PHOs) use the data on drinking to produce model-based estimates of alcohol consumption at local authority level to inform local decision making.
ONS could save between £100,000 and £500,000 by stopping the Survey. Chopping the bulletins on alcohol-related deaths could save £10,000 to £50,000 each. These savings are small beer compared to the £21 billion a year alcohol-related harm is estimated to cost the UK. ONS aims to publish a summary of the findings of this consultation in early 2014.
Alcohol Research UK have called for those in the alcohol field to respond to the consultation.
Comments