What's New Archive

Royal Mail teams up with eBay data analysis firm Advanced Ecommerce Research Systems (AERS) to launch a new service to help direct marketers target the households likeliest to buy their products. The new insight tool merges AERS’ eBay transaction data with Royal Mail’s delivery information. Data is anonymous and aggregated to a postcode level and aims to provide clients with an overview of the types of product a household buys on eBay and how much they spend. Information will be refreshed monthly.

This is a last opportunity to provide feedback on geographies before the 2011 Census. Users are invited to comment on any aspect of the geography policy for the Census, but particularly on three key areas:

• creation of a new geography for business statistics called Workplace Zones
• the need for an upper layer of Super Output Areas
• any exceptional instances where users feel 2001 census geographies do not perform as they should.

The Government is considering abolishing the edited electoral roll. The current framework governing access to and the supply of electoral registers has now been in operation for seven years. The Government wishes to consult on the impacts, both positive and negative, that could stem from accepting Recommendation 19 of the Data Sharing Review, to remove the provision allowing the sale of the edited electoral register, and consider whether other options exist.

This is a consultation led by the Communities and Local Government organisation on proposals made by the Prime Minister in November 2009 to make available certain Ordnance Survey datasets for free and without restriction on re-use. It is taking place in the context of the broad long-term strategic options for Ordnance Survey. The purpose of the consultation is to hear feedback on these specific proposals.

This consultation is an important part of The Office for National Statistics’ preparation for the 2011 Census in England and Wales. It allows users of census data to help shape the main statistical outputs for the 2011 Census. The consultation is open to everyone, including members of the public.

The Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis (CASA) at University College London is running a one day conference on 13th April which will feature the work of CASA on projects associated with research funded by various UK research councils. The conference is free but attendees have to register.

The main objective of the 2011 Census is to provide high quality population statistics as required by a wide range of users including policy makers, service providers, academics, commercial enterprises and the general public. To achieve this, the General Register Office for Scotland (GROS) is consulting widely with users to make sure that its census output products are relevant and practical. The consultation will provide an opportunity for users to help shape the main statistical outputs for the 2011 Census and to comment on a range of related issues. The consultation is open to everyone, including members of the public. The closing date for submissions is Friday 14 May 2010.