1 Introduction
1.1 Administrative Data Research in Northern Ireland (ADR NI)
Since 2013 the UK Government, through the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), has funded NISRA (in partnership with the Queen’s University Belfast and Ulster University) to host an Administrative Data Research Centre in Northern Ireland (known as the ADR NI and which is part of the wider ADR UK). The directive of the initiative has been to provide a secure and accredited research environment to enable agreed, ethically approved, and cross-cutting research to be conducted using administrative data sets that are routinely collected and analysed by NICS departments and other bodies. The ultimate aims of the joined-up approach are to inform the development and monitoring of public policy and to help ensure that decision making is evidence based and the research provides a benefit to society. The ADR NI makes it possible for trained and accredited researchers to use de-identified administrative data for social and economic research, while making sure the data remain safe and the privacy of individuals and businesses are protected.
1.2 Cross Government Income and Administrative Dataset (CGIAD) 2019/20
The CGIAD is built using a combination of social security benefits, income & employment information, and demographic data. It is built using data from multiple different sources, which are outlined in section 2.1. It is predominantly an annual demographic snapshot (in this instance, reflecting the position in March/April 2020) with some annualized information for the 19/20 financial year.
The CGIAD was developed by the Department for Communities’ Analytics Division (DfC-AD) working collaboratively with Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency’s Research Support Unit (NISRA-RSU).
2 Background
2.1 CGIAD Sources and Linkage
The CGIAD is a pre-linked dataset. Cross sectional information is collected for the dataset for the financial year 2019/20 from four main data providers: the Department for Communities (DfC), His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC), the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE). This includes social security benefits data administered by DWP on behalf of DfC, and earnings and employment information from HMRC.
The CGIAD 2019/20 is a standalone dataset and cannot be linked to other datasets.
2.2 Relevant Research Themes
The CGIAD has been developed in order to advance research across a range of themes. The CGIAD can offer an evidence base for policy development and decision making as well as the monitoring of public policy in Northern Ireland. The CGIAD will support research aligned with the Department’s key outcomes. This includes:
- The delivery of an anti-poverty strategy supported by evidence-based proposals.
- Collaborating with other Departments and delivering with partners on cross-cutting issues, including homelessness, place and deprivation-based approaches, and employability to deliver a sustainable and effective set of anti-poverty interventions.
- Enhancing citizen focused services and interventions through an ongoing process of customer insight, data analytics, research, and analysis.
3 The Data
3.1 Variables included in the CGIAD
Please see the CGIAD Metadata and Data Dictionary for a full list of the variables contained within the CGIAD. This should be read in conjunction with the CGIAD Guidance for Researchers which provides background information on the CGIAD, including how the data is collected and quality assured. Researchers should note that a CGIAD univariate synthetic dataset may be developed in the future with the intention to make available to researchers for training purposes, subject to approvals.
3.2 Accessing the CGIAD data
Access to the CGIAD dataset is limited to researchers and research teams with accredited researcher status under the Digital Economy Act 2017 (DEA) and subject to approval by the data providers and the UK Statistics Authority Research Accreditation Panel (RAP). In the first instance, researchers should complete the Themed Datasets Initial Research Proposal Form and submit this to rsu@nisra.gov.uk. The proposal form asks researchers to summarise the main aim and objectives of the proposed project as well as the methodological approach that they are intending to use. Researchers should also include details of the data required (including a variable list with justification) and cohort required. Researchers are also required to detail any public engagement activities planned as part of their project. RSU, in consultation with the data providers, will determine the feasibility of the project prior to the completion of a full application by the researcher(s) to RAP. Ethical approval will also be required for each project, either through the research team’s university ethics committee or via the National Statistician’s Ethics Advisory Committee. RSU will assist researchers from the beginning of their application proposal to the close of the project. Further information on how to apply for approval is available here.
The CGIAD dataset may be accessed in the RSU secure research environment.
4 Completed Research
There have been no completed research pieces using the CGIAD at this stage.
5 Other Useful Information
5.1 Organisation Name
Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA)
ADR UK - Administrative Data Research UK
5.1 Quality/Background documentation
The CGIAD 2019/20 contains approximately 729,000 households. Based on comparisons with both the Family Resources Survey and NISRA’s Household Projections, this indicates that it covers around 98% of NI households.
As part of the project, DfC/RSU were keen to develop metadata for the CGIAD dataset in line with international standards. RSU will provide researchers with the CGIAD Metadata and Data Dictionary which contains a detailed list of variables including notes and further information. The dataset has been subject to rigorous Statistical Disclosure Control (SDC) at each stage of its construction.
5.3 Related data
DfC AD has an annual release of poverty statistics in the form of the NI Poverty and Income Inequality Report constructed from analysis of the Family Resources Survey (FRS). Further information may be found at Northern Ireland Poverty and Income Inequality report 2022-23 | Department for Communities (communities-ni.gov.uk).
In addition, DfC AD also releases the Benefit Statistics Summary (BSS) on a quarterly basis. This can be found at Benefits statistics summary | Department for Communities (communities-ni.gov.uk).
Contact the team!
Research Support Unit
Colby House
Stranmillis Court
BELFAST
BT9 5RR
Telephone: +44(0) 28 90 388488
Email: rsu@nisra.gov.uk
Web page: Research Support Unit