Access to the Family Resources Survey
Although the FRS was designed with the DWP's needs specifically in mind, it also contains information that is of interest to other government departments and outside researchers.
Dataset release
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has completed its review of the access arrangements it requires for the sensitive versions of the Family Resources Survey (FRS), Households Below Average Income (HBAI) and Pensioners' Incomes (PI) data previously released under the Special Licence. DWP has concluded that a higher level of security is required for them to continue making these data available.
Potential users of these data will only be able to access them via the UK Data Service’s safe room at the UK Data Archive. Details of the application process are available at Secure Data Service - Special conditions for DWP datasets.
This decision reflects DWP-specific requirements, which are based in part on legislation affecting DWP alone; this is why other organisations are able to release data of similar sensitivity by Special Licence while DWP cannot.
DWP regrets the inconvenience this will place on the user community but without arrangements that meet this higher standard DWP could not give access to data of this sensitivity. However, these additional security requirements have enabled the inclusion of a number of additional variables which were previously not included and will increase the value and scope of the research which these data can support.
We wish to reassure users that DWP and the UK Data Service are working closely to improve access and are discussing options for transferring the data into the UK Data Service’s secure remote access system as soon as is practicable within the legal framework to which DWP data is subject.
Earlier Special Licence versions of these data will be available through the same secure access mechanisms.
Data Archive
Each year the FRS database is deposited at the Data Archive at Essex University.
Question Bank
Background information on the dataset and copies of the FRS questionaire can also be accessed through the Question Bank at Surrey University.
Data Release and Control
The Family Resources Survey Data Release and Control sets out the DWP Family Resources Survey policy on release and control of the survey data. This covers the test releases through to the public release within the department, across government and to research organisations.
This protocol adheres to the National Statistics Code of Practice and is based upon work carried out for external data release with the Office for National Statistics and the Microdata Release Panel, which advises ONS.
