Public Policy

What have we learned about the experience of disabled people?

Categories: Data, Health, ONS, Population, Public Policy, Wellbeing
Two adults are helping a child work on a laptop

Tomorrow (3 December) is the UN International Day for Persons with Disabilities.  With the most recent estimates from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) putting the proportion of disabled people in the UK at 22% in 2021 (up from 19% a decade ago), this is a sizeable and very diverse group. Here, Helen Colvin and Josephine Foubert from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) look at some of the work we have been doing recently to give insight into the lives of disabled children and adults.

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A Wealth of data: transforming ONS statistics on income, spending and wealth

Categories: Data, Economy, ONS, Public Policy, Wellbeing
Image of a piggy bank with a coin about to drop in

The ONS produces a range of statistics showing the income, spending and wealth of British households, together forming an important part of the overall picture of the economy. These statistics are a vital source of information for understanding people’s financial wellbeing including the effects from the rising cost of living. Adrian Chesson talks about the consultation launched today on our plans to transform these key statistics.  

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How world events have led to rising immigration

Categories: Data, ONS, Population, Public Policy
Ukrainian refugees at Lviv railway station

 The 12 months to June 2022 were unique for many reasons. The end of lockdown restrictions in the UK, the first full period following transition from the EU, and world events including the war in Ukraine, the new visa route for Hong Kong British Nationals (Overseas) and resettlement of Afghans have all contributed to record levels of immigration. Here Jay Lindop examines the impact of these events and looks ahead to what the future holds for international migration estimates.

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Inclusive measures of growth – How ONS is moving Beyond GDP

Categories: Coronavirus, Economy, Environment, Office for National Statistics, ONS, Public Policy, Wellbeing

GDP is a well-used metric for measuring changes in the size of economies around the world. However, it has its limitations. Richard Heys writes about the continuing developments at the ONS to go beyond GDP by including measures of the impact of growth on people, the climate and environment.

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Understanding the impact of the pandemic on crime

Categories: Crime, Office for National Statistics, ONS, Public Policy
Met Police officers on duty during the pandemic

The impact of lockdown restrictions on levels of crime is one of the lesser told stories of the coronavirus pandemic. With large parts of the population asked to stay in their homes, so-called traditional crimes such as burglary and robbery decreased. However, this was offset by rises in fraud as criminals exploited changing behaviours and more reliance of online and phone services. Meghan Elkin explains how the first comparable figures to before the pandemic help us understand whether there are sustained impacts on levels of crime.

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