28 June 2011 Note

The Lifestyles compendia consulation is now closed. We thank all customers and stakeholders for their feedback. We are currently reviewing responses and expect to publish a document highlighting the outcomes of the consulation shortly.

Introduction

The Lifestyles Statistics team within the NHS Information Centre publish four compendia publications annually:

• Statistics on Drug Misuse: England
• Statistics on Alcohol: England
• Statistics on Smoking: England
• Statistics on Obesity, Physical Activity, and Diet: England

These annual reports present a range of information on each topic from a variety of sources. They are intended to act as reference point for each subject, providing information obtained from a number of sources in a user-friendly format. The reports contain previously published information and also include additional new analyses.

Aims of the Consultation

This consultation aims to engage with the users of the reports to understand how these reports are used and to seek comments on how the relevance and usefulness can be improved. This needs to be considered against increasing resource pressures, following the Government's 2010 spending review.

The overall aims are to ensure the reports remain relevant and useful to users whilst maximising value for money; we would also seek the views of users on the methodologies used in the publications to ensure they remain up to date and fit for purpose.

Comments are invited from all interested parties.

Process

In accordance with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics, this consultation will run for 12 weeks. Details of how users can respond are contained within the consultation document (below). Following the consultation period, all comments received will be considered and decisions made on the future format of the compendia publications. We will inform all respondents of the outcome (via email so please ensure you provide your contact details), and publish the outcome on the NHS Information Centre website: work-with-us/consultations.

Download the consultation document: Lifestyles Statistics Compendia Publications Consultation

How to Respond

This consultation will run for 12 weeks from 1 April to midnight on Friday 24 June 2011. Please ensure you submit any comments prior to the closing date so they can be considered. Comments can be returned via email to lifestyles@ic.nhs.uk or by post to:

Lifestyles Statistics
The NHS Information Centre for health and social care
1 Trevelyan Square
Boar Lane
Leeds
LS1 6AE

If you would like to know more about the consultation or if you have any queries, please contact the Lifestyles Statistics Section Head at the NHS Information Centre:

Paul Eastwood
Email: paul.eastwood@ic.nhs.uk
Telephone: 0113 254 2509

Confidentiality and Data Protection

Please note that if you want the information that you provide to be treated as confidential, be aware that, under the Freedom of Information Act, there is a statutory Code of Practice with which public authorities must comply and which deals, among other things, with obligations of confidence. In view of this it would be helpful if you could explain to us why you regard the information you have provided as confidential. If we receive a request for disclosure of the information, we will take full account of your explanation but we cannot give assurance that confidentiality can be maintained in all circumstances.