THE Rural Services Network has welcomed a recommendation that Census data should continue to generate local level statistics.

After an in depth study, national statistician Jil Matheson made the recommendation on the way forward for the government's census and population statistics on Thursday (27 March).

She has been considering ways the census can be modernised.

The Rural Services Network has campaigned against any changes that would have a detrimental effect on rural communities.

In particular, it asked for "complete re-assurance" that any loss of local data would not impact on the official rural-urban definition and the settlement statistics it allows.

Ms Matheson has now recommended an online census of all households and communal establishments in England and Wales in 2021 as a successor to the paper-based decennial census.

But her recommendation also recognises that special care will need to be taken to support those who are unable to complete the census online.

This would be combined with:

* Increased use of administrative data and surveys in order to enhance the statistics from the 2021 Census and improve annual statistics between censuses.
* Together these would make the best use of all available data to provide the population statistics which England and Wales require and offer a springboard to the greater use of administrative data and annual surveys in the future.
* Further research is to be carried out over the coming months and years to determine the most appropriate blend of methods and data sources.

The Rural Services Network has welcomed the recommendation.

Brian Wilson, the network's research director, said: "It's vital for the rural evidence base that small area statistics continue to be produced from the population Census."

"Those delivering services to rural communities, where numbers are typically small, need to understand the social and economic make-up at a very local level.

Parish councils also need access to data specific to their areas, to help them make informed progress with neighbourhood plans and other localism measures."

The recommended approach from ONS for the 2021 census matches what was suggested by the Rural Services Network, said Mr Wilson.

"That is, continuing with a full census of all households, while also making good use of administrative data sources to improve statistics for years falling in between Census years."

"It's important, though, to remember that this recommendation still needs to be ratified by government and parliament."

Ian Cope, director of population and demography directorate at the Office of National Statistics, said discussion with users played a key role in informing the recommendation.

"It strongly underlined the value to users of existing census data about small areas, about small populations and as part of the historical record," he said.

"It also showed that users recognise the potential value of modernising our approach and making use of other sources.

"We feel the resulting recommendation of a mixed approach provides the best possible solution and a very positive base for the future."