Consultation
Consultation on proposed
publication changes to ONS
International Transactions outputs
3 September 2014
Office for National Statistics
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Summary
We (the Office for National Statistics) are planning to make a number of significant changes to the
format and timing of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and International Trade In Services (ITIS)
statistics. We also plan to publish Outward Foreign AffiliaTe Statistics (OFATS) for the first time.
We would like to hear your opinion to find out if our proposals will add value, and to establish any
further improvements that you would like us to consider.
Introduction
We continue to engage with users and make improvements using your feedback. We recently ran
a user survey from 2 June 2014 to 1 August 2014 to gather feedback on the usefulness of current
International Transactions outputs. From this survey, some potential improvements suggested
were:
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to make more extensive time series data available
to provide informative context within supporting commentary to explain data trends
to make information sources easier to find.
A full report on this survey will be made available in mid-September.
In response, we launched this consultation on proposed changes and additions to International
Transactions outputs.
Background
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), International Trade In Services (ITIS) and Outward Foreign
AffiliaTe Statistics (OFATS) all provide information about the economic and trading performance of
UK businesses and industry sectors in different ways.
FDI statistics tell users where the UK is investing, and who is investing in the UK. They can be
used to indicate differences in economic health across countries. Two sets of annual FDI statistics
are currently published; the first in early December, with an additional geographical breakdown
based on the same data in the following February. We propose merging the two publications into a
single mid-December release to improve the timeliness and clarity of available content.
ITIS statistics monitor the performance of the UK in terms of its exports and imports; useful for
determining change in trade among countries and industries. Annual ITIS statistics are currently
published in January, providing four years of data. Feedback from our recent survey revealed that
users want as much historical data as possible. We propose providing access to additional data,
extending the current time series back to 1997. There is also an opportunity for the current ITIS
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release to scale back on content; focusing in future on what is most used from the current
information, to create a more digestible output.
Outward Foreign AffiliaTe Statistics (OFATS) monitor the degree of globalisation for UK business
chains across the world; giving users valuable information on labour and turnover of UK-owned
overseas affiliates. We don’t currently publish OFATS, although annual data deliveries are
provided to Eurostat by regulation. We can provide you with analysis and commentary using
OFATS data, which will give valuable context; therefore we propose to begin producing OFATS
annual releases under an experimental statistics banner from November 2014.
Method
This consultation will exist as an online survey for 4 weeks, from Wednesday 3 September to
Wednesday 1 October 2014. Exact questions contained within the online questionnaire and how to
reply are detailed in the section below, should you not be able to use this method.
Questions
1) We currently publish annual Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) statistics in early December,
with an additional geographical and component breakdown based on the same data in the
following February. Merging separate content into a single mid-December release would
ensure that you receive more timely detailed breakdowns. This also ensures that all FDI
content produced in future will be more easily accessible through this one release.
a) How useful are these changes likely to be for you?
Very useful
Fairly useful
Not very useful
Not at all useful
Don’t know
b) Would these changes negatively impact you in any way?
Yes
No
c) Please provide your concerns and further comments below.
Office for National Statistics
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2) We currently publish annual International Trade In Services (ITIS) statistics in January,
which provide four years of data. We are investigating extending this time series to include
data from 1997 onwards.
a) How useful are these changes likely to be for you?
Very useful
Fairly useful
Not very useful
Not at all useful
Don’t know
b) Would these changes negatively impact you in any way?
Yes
No
c) Please provide your concerns and further comments below.
3) ONS propose to change the publication of International Trade In Services (ITIS) statistics:
i)
In the medium term, amend the annual ITIS statistical bulletin into a more
concise and digestible format – possibly as a short story (example), which
would include accompanying data tables and economic commentary.
However, there would be a reduction to the length of the current publication.
a. How useful are these changes likely to be for you?
Very useful
Fairly useful
Not very useful
Not at all useful
Don’t know
b. Would these changes negatively impact you in any way?
Yes
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No
ii)
In the longer term – bring forward the annual ITIS release from January to
the preceding December, with no existing content sacrificed after the
proposed change in 3.i)
a. How useful are these changes likely to be for you?
Very useful
Fairly useful
Not very useful
Not at all useful
Don’t know
b. Would these changes negatively impact you in any way?
Yes
No
Please provide your concerns and further comments below.
4) Outward Foreign AffiliaTe Statistics (OFATS) monitors the degree of globalisation for UK
business chains across the World; giving users valuable information on labour and turnover
of UK-owned overseas affiliates. ONS proposes to begin publishing annual OFATS
analysis from November 2014, which will provide information on employment and turnover
for UK-owned affiliates abroad.
a) How useful is this addition likely to be to you?
Very useful
Fairly useful
Not very useful
Not at all useful
Don’t know
b) Please provide your concerns and further comments below.
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5) We would like to ensure that we are appropriately using our resources to produce statistics
and analysis that are most useful to our users. Looking at the next 12 – 18 months, what
changes specifically related to Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), International Trade in
Services (ITIS) and Outward Foreign AffiliaTe Statistics (OFATS) would you like us to
make to our products, or what new products would you like us to produce?
6) What sector do you work in?
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Academic/Research (e.g. student; postgraduate researcher)
Voluntary
Business
Journalists/Media
Local or regional government/public organisation
National government department/organisation
International organisation
Other (please specify)
7) Please can you tell us a bit about you?
Your name:
Organisation:
Email address:
Telephone:
8) To ensure our statistics and analyses are useful to you we would like to engage with you on
a more regular basis. Would you like to join a new user group for International Transactions
statistics?
Yes
No
You can respond best to the questions above by visiting this link (SURVEY MONKEY LINK).
Alternatively, you can respond by e-mail to fdi@ons.gsi.gov.uk, or by post to:
Andrew Yeap
Office for National Statistics
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Office for National Statistics
Room 2.301
Government Buildings
Cardiff Road
Newport
NP10 8XG
Consultation timetable
This consultation will run from 3 September to 1 October 2014.
After the consultation
We will publish a summary of the comments made by the end of 2014 at the latest.
Getting in Touch
If you have any queries or comments about the consultation process, please email Simeon Bowen
at ons.communications@ons.gsi.gov.uk or call 0845 601 3034.
You can also write to us at the following address:
Customer Contact Centre,
Office for National Statistics,
Government Buildings,
Cardiff Road,
Newport,
South Wales,
NP10 8XG.
For further information on ONS consultations, please visit http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/aboutons/get-involved/consultations/index.html
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Confidentiality and data protection
The basics…
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As someone who is interested in ONS statistics, we’d welcome your views. We may ask you to tell
us who you are so that, where appropriate, we can follow up on the feedback you give. Your
response might be made available if required under a Freedom of Information request, but we
would only do so in a way that was within the law. All findings will be anonymised when we report
the outcomes of this consultation.
The details…
The information you send us may be passed to colleagues within ONS and other parts of
Government.
Information provided in response to this consultation, including personal information, may also be
published in accordance with access to information legislation including the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 (FOIA).
If you want the information that you provide to be treated as confidential, please be aware that,
under the FOIA, there is a statutory Code of Practice with which public authorities must comply.
This Code, amongst other things, deals with confidentiality. Because of this it would help if you
gave us a short explanation of why you think confidentiality is necessary. If we receive a request
for disclosure of the information we will take full account of your explanation, but we cannot give an
assurance that confidentiality can be maintained in all circumstances.
Please ensure that you email ons.communications@ons.gsi.gov.uk if you wish your
response and your name to be kept confidential. Confidential responses will be included in
any summary of numbers of comments received and views expressed.
Crown Copyright
© Crown copyright 2014
You may re-use this document/publication (not including logos) free of charge in any format or
medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence v2.0. Where we have identified any
third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders
concerned.
To view this licence visit:
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/2
E-mail psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk
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