Safeguarded microdata

Overview

The safeguarded microdata files consist of random samples of up to 5 per cent of individuals in the 2011 Census output database for England and Wales.

Two person-level microdata safeguarded files are now available:

• a file at a the region level

• a file at a grouped local authority level , which is at a lower level of geography but contains less detail than the region file. The geography for this file includes groups of local authorities, or single local authorities where a population threshold is reached. Groups of local authorities are, as far as possible, comparable with the 1991 sample of anonymised microdata (SAR) individual file.

A user guide is available to accompany the safeguarded files. In addition, for each product, a codebook details the variables and geography included and a quality document compares the microdata samples with published data.

Access via UK Data Service

The regional safeguarded file is available via download through the UK Data Service. Researchers wishing to use the UK Data Service will need to register and accept terms and conditions before accessing and downloading data. The same access restrictions will apply to the grouped local authority safeguarded file.

All users must agree to the terms and conditions of the UK Data Service End User Licence before data can be accessed and downloaded.

Please note, requests from non-UK residents will only be considered from researchers who are resident in the EEA or in countries considered by the European Commission to have an adequate level of protection for personal data.

Find out how to register at the UK Data Service.

Downloads for the user guide and the codebook are available in the 'downloads' section.

National Statistics Socio-economic Classification (NS-SEC)

An issue has been identified with the National Statistics Socio-economic Classification (NS-SEC) variable, in the “2011 Census Microdata Individual Safeguarded Sample (Regional): England and Wales” dataset made available via the UKDS. The error arose during the creation of the file for onward sharing. Please note this issue has not impacted the underlying data or other outputs. The variable has now been resupplied to UKDS and will include all categories as specified in the documentation. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) apologises for any inconvenience caused.