Scottish Government

Quality Measures

The Annual Business Survey (ABS) is a stratified random sample, using SIC(2007), employment and country as stratifying variables. As in all samples the estimates from the survey are subject to various sources of error.

• Details of UK-wide sampling errors for the main variables are made available by ONS at: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/abs/annual-business-survey/2009-revised-results/abs-2009r---quality-measures--june-2011-.xls
• It is not possible to produce sampling errors for the regional or local estimates given the estimation involved. Therefore, to give users an indication of data quality and reliability, the SABS publication now includes information on the percentage of selected data (business units, turnover, GVA, labour costs) that is from actual survey returns as opposed to estimated data. For example, if a Local Authority area has an estimate of £X m Turnover in the Manufacturing sector, from the associated quality measure table, users will be able to see that Y% of the Turnover figure is produced from actual returns and by deduction Z% from estimated data. Data quality measures for SABS data are available below.
• The actual survey returns proportions also include constructed returns; this is where returns for the few large non-responders are estimated for individually. This estimation is normally based on summary data received from the business, or on the business's return to the inquiry in the previous year adjusted to take account of the likely change in the value of trading over the period.
• Note that SABS data quality measures have not been provided for the employment or employee variables. The employment and employee estimates are largely based on Business Register and Employment Survey (BRES) data, and sampling errors for 2008 and 2009 BRES estimates are provided at a regional and local level, by ONS, at: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/all-releases.html?definition=tcm%3A77-230512

 

 

Scotland Tables

• 2008-2009: Scotland by Section - % Actual Returns (SIC 2007)
• 2008-2009: Scotland by Division - % Actual Returns (SIC 2007)
• 2008-2009: Ownership by Section - % Actual Returns (SIC 2007)

Local Authority Tables

• 2008-2009: Local Authority areas by Section - % Actual Returns (SIC 2007)