Water data used in the CPI/RPI calculations
Dear Office for National Statistics,
Please can you publish all raw data (presumably monthly) and the subsequently derived indices for water charges as used in the CPI and RPI in the period since 2010.
Yours faithfully,
Simon Briscoe
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Our reference: FOI/2021/1933
Dear Simon,
Thank you for your request.
Before we are able to proceed with answering your request, we require clarification as to what you mean by subsequently derived indices. Are these item indices for water charges?
If so, you may find the following link to the microdataset useful. The item indices spreadsheets included in the link for April each year include unchained indices for water charges in England and Wales, and Scotland. The indices are updated each April and remain unchanged for the remainder of the year. The reference numbers for the series (in the spreadsheets) are 410402 and 410403.The overall indices for water charges are published in the standard datasets for CPIH and CPI.
Please note, we would be unable to disclose the raw data requested, as this would identify individual businesses. Section 39 of the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 (SRSA) renders it an offence to disclose information held by the Statistics Board for statistical purposes that would identify an individual or a body corporate. As we are prohibited by law from publishing statistics in which individual businesses can be identified, we find that Section 44 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) would apply.
Once we have received clarification from you, we can look into this further and provide a formal response.
Kind regards,
The Freedom of Information Team | UK Statistics Authority | Awdurdod Ystadegau'r Deyrnas Unedig
@UKStatsAuth | [email address] | http://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk
Dear FOI Team,
In response to your questions:
1 - "what you mean by subsequently derived indices. Are these item indices for water charges?"
I mean any index produced that is not published in the regular publications.
2 - You say: "...... we would be unable to disclose the raw data requested, as this would identify individual businesses." I am happy to have the raw data bunched by supplier but with no supplier named.
I did not see a link in the email you sent. Perhaps you can resend it?
Yours sincerely,
Simon Briscoe
Dear Simon,
Thank you for your clarification.
Apologies, that the links haven't appeared on your email below.
Here is the link to the [1]microdataset referenced in our previous email:
[2]https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/inflation...
We also included links to our CPIH and CPI datasets: Overall indices for
water charges are published in the standard datasets for [3]CPIH and
[4]CPI.
Kind regards,
The Freedom of Information Team | UK Statistics Authority | Awdurdod
Ystadegau’r Deyrnas Unedig
@UKStatsAuth | [5][email address] |
[6]http://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk
Dear FOI Team,
Hello.
I'm not sure of it is the lack of clarity in your email, my own lack of capability, or the system used by whatdotheyknow but I can't see what I'm looking for.
Is what I want on this page:
https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/inflation...
Can you please take me step by step to where I need to go to the water data?
Yours sincerely,
Simon Briscoe
Dear Simon,
Thank you for your email.
We have spoken with the team, and they have provided the following explanation for how to find the water indices:
The water item indices are included in the spreadsheets named "Item indices April [year]" in the linked page. In the spreadsheets, they can be identified by the item reference number in column B. You need to search for 410402 and 410403. The RPI indices are then in column F and the CPI/CPIH indices are in column G. These indices are referenced on the previous January=100, that is, they are unchained.
We hope this helps, however, do get back in touch if you require any further clarity.
In the meantime, we have picked up your request clarification and have logged this for the team to answer. We hope to have a response to you as soon as possible or, in any event, within 20 working days. Should we experience any issues with getting our response to you in this time, we will keep you informed.
Kind regards,
The Freedom of Information Team | UK Statistics Authority | Awdurdod Ystadegau'r Deyrnas Unedig
@UKStatsAuth | [email address] | http://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk
Our Reference: FOI/2021/1933
Dear Simon
Thank you for your email requesting data pertaining to raw water charges
data and the derived indices used for CPI and RPI since 2010.
I am writing to confirm that the Office for National Statistics has now
completed its search for the information which you requested and the
response can be found here:
You asked:
Please can you publish all raw data (presumably monthly) and the
subsequently derived indices for water charges as used in the CPI and RPI
in the period since 2010. By subsequently derived indices I mean any index
produced that is not published in the regular publications. I am happy to
have the raw data grouped by supplier but with no supplier named.
We said:
Thank you for the clarification of your earlier request for data on water
charges.
You asked for any index produced that is not published in the regular
publications. Please see the following link to our [1]microdataset, which
includes item indices for water services. These are not part of the
National Statistics publication. The item indices are found in the "Item
indices April [year]" files. The reference numbers for the water items are
410402 and 410403. These can be found in column B of the relevant files,
for example cells B262 and B263 of the April 2020 file. The RPI indices
are in column F (eg F262 and F263 for 2020) and the CPI/CPIH indices are
in column G (eg G262 an G263 FOR 2020). The indices are unchained, that
is, they are referenced on the previous January=100.
Unfortunately, we are unable to disclose the raw data in the format you
have requested. Even if we were to remove the names of the suppliers, the
data you have requested would still be identifiable, as data at this
granular level could be matched with other publicly available
information. [2]Section 39 of the Statistics and Registration Service Act
2007 (SRSA) renders it an offence to disclose information held by the
Statistics Board for statistical purposes that would identify an
individual or a body corporate. As we are prohibited by law from
publishing statistics in which individuals can be identified, we find that
Section 44 of the [3]Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA)
applies. [4]Section 44 is an absolute exemption and no consideration of
the public interest test needs to be applied.
You have the right to have this response to your Freedom of Information
request reviewed internally by an internal review process and, if you
remain unhappy with the decision, by the Information Commissioner. If you
would like to have the decision reviewed please email the Freedom of
Information Team at ‘[ONS request email]’ or write to The FoI Team, Room
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5RR, and mark your correspondence "Internal Review".
If you have any queries about this email, please contact the Freedom of
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The Freedom of Information Team
Office for National Statistics
For information on Coronavirus, please visit [5]ONS.gov.uk/coronavirus
References
Visible links
1. https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/inflation...
2. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2007...
3. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000...
4. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000...
5. http://ons.gov.uk/coronavirus
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