A study found that since the late 1960s British society had been slowly and steadily segregating in geographical terms. Since 2001 the rate of that 'demographic segregation' had accelerated, and the latest (2006) official population estimates show the country to be more segregated than at any time since the computerization of Census data (1966). It had polarized economically between areas since 1981, become more socially fragmented since 1971, and geographical divisions in political disaffection were at their highest since the previous maxima in 1966 and 1974. Neighbourhoods were far more socially distinct in 2008 compared to the more mixed neighbourhoods of around 1968.
Source: Danny Dorling, Dan Vickers, Bethan Thomas, John Pritchard and Dimitris Ballas, Changing UK: The way we live now, Department of Geography/University of Sheffield (0114 2227900)
Links: Report | BBC report
Date: 2008-Dec
A report was published summarizing the 2007 Expenditure and Food Survey.
Source: Rachel Skentelbery (ed.), Family Spending: A report on the 2007 Expenditure and Food Survey, Office for National Statistics, Palgrave Macmillan (01256 329242)
Links: Report | ONS press release (1) | ONS press release (2) | Telegraph report
Date: 2008-Nov
A survey examined social attitudes among people in Wales, together with their experiences of discrimination, harassment, and victimization. Respondents aged 70 and over were more than three times as likely as those aged 16-29 to agree that only white people could be truly Welsh. Respondents living in workless households were more likely than others to strongly disagree with the statement that Muslims who lived in Wales make a positive contribution to society.
Source: Social Attitudes in Wales: Results from the Living in Wales Survey 2007, Welsh Assembly Government (029 2082 5111)
Links: Report
Date: 2008-Nov
A report examined the key results from the British Household Panel Survey during the 18 years of its life, 1991-2008.
Source: Richard Berthoud and Jonathan Burton (eds.), In Praise of Panel Surveys, Institute for Social and Economic Research/University of Essex (01206 873087)
Links: Report | ISER press release | Telegraph report
Date: 2008-Sep
The report of the 2007 Scottish Household Survey was published. Key topics included household composition; housing; neighbourhoods and communities; economic activity; financial inclusion; education; transport; internet and broadband; health and caring; local services; volunteering; and culture and sport.
Source: Scottish Household Survey: Annual Report – Results from 2007, Scottish Government (0131 556 8400)
Links: Report | SG press release
Date: 2008-Aug
An annual report presented statistical trends on the main areas of government activity in Scotland.
Source: High Level Summary of Statistics: Key Trends for Scotland 2008, Office of the Chief Statistician/Scottish Government (0131 244 3341)
Links: Report
Date: 2008-May
The National Statistician published an overview report on social diversity. People were better off, on average, than they had been 20 years previously in terms of overall trends in economic well-being, health, education, and employment. Some progress had also been made in reducing inequality (equal pay for women and educational attainment for some ethnic minority groups, for example): but there were also a number of other examples – for particular ethnic groups, disabled people, and socio-economic groups – where disadvantages had persisted.
Source: Karen Dunnell (National Statistician), Diversity and Different Experiences in the UK, Office for National Statistics (0845 601 3034)
Links: Report | ONS press release | FT report | Guardian report
Date: 2008-Apr
The 2008 edition was published of Social Trends. The report provided data on trends in a wide range of social policy areas.
Source: Abigail Self (ed.), Social Trends 38: 2008 edition, Office for National Statistics, Palgrave Macmillan (01256 329242)
Links: Report | ONS press release | NSS press release | Guardian report (1) | Guardian report (2) | Telegraph report | FT report
Date: 2008-Apr
The 24th edition was published of an annual survey of social attitudes.
Source: Alison Park, John Curtice, Katarina Thomson, Miranda Phillips and Mark Johnson (eds.), British Social Attitudes: The 24th Report, SAGE Publications Ltd (020 7324 8500)
Links: Summary | NatCen press release | Telegraph report | BBC report | FT report
Date: 2008-Jan
The 2007 edition of Family Spending was published. It documented information on household spending on goods and services, and compared the latest figures with those for 1957, when the survey was launched. Households spent an average of £456 per week during 2006, up from £443 in 2005-06.
Source: Ed Dunn (ed.), Family Spending: 2007 edition, Office for National Statistics, Palgrave Macmillan (01256 329242)
Links: Report | ONS press release (1) | ONS press release (2) | FT report | Guardian report | Telegraph report
Date: 2008-Jan