The Office for National Statistics (ONS) wants to hear the views of traders and other interested parties on its plans to provide more detailed estimates of UK trade data, particularly for sub-national breakdowns with regard to the export of services.
As part of the UK trade development plan, and the Supporting Devolution programme, the ONS has carried out experimental analysis analysing sub-national trade.
In July 2016, it published the first estimated values of service exports from each region and country of the UK covering the period 2011-2014. Then, in May 2017, it followed this with figures for 2015 and finally, in July, it published additional analysis breaking down by country of destination of exports.
“This new set of statistical outputs is designed to support local-level decision and policy-making,” the ONS explains, “particularly in light of recent events including the UK’s declaration to leave the EU, the publication of the consultation on the Industrial Strategy, and continued devolution negotiations.”
This is the first time estimates of service exports at sub-national level have been created and feedback is wanted to determine whether the outputs are meeting users’ requirements, whether the methodology is appropriate and to consider the future development of the estimates.
Details of the consultation, including access to supporting documents can be found at consultations.ons.gov.uk; the deadline for submitting comments is 8 September 2017.
