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10 February 2005

NORTHERN IRELAND FAMILY RESOURCES SURVEY PUBLISHED

A report entitled "Family Resources Survey Urban Rural Report Northern Ireland 2002-03", containing statistics for the period April 2002 to the end of March 2003, was released today by the Statistics and Research Branch of the Department for Social Development.

The survey takes forward the work of the earlier Family Resources Survey (FRS), that was published on 28 October 2004, by reproducing key tables from the perspective of Urban Rural classification of Northern Ireland.

Key points include:

  • In 2002-03, the Urban West of Northern Ireland had more than twice the provincial average of households, with one adult and one child.

  • Those living in the Belfast Metropolitan Urban Area (BMUA) and the Urban region, derived higher than average proportions of their income from salaries and wages, in contrast to those living in the Rural regions, who derived higher than average proportions of their income from self-employment.

  • The highest proportion of houses owned outright or under mortgage was found in the rural regions, whilst the lowest proportion was found in the Urban West.

  • The BMUA and the Rural East had the highest proportion of households with savings of at least £20,000, and the lowest proportion of households with no savings at all, in direct contrast to the Urban West.

  • The Rural East housed the highest proportion of managers and senior officials, whilst the BMUA housed the second highest proportion.

  • For workers who travelled to work, 6 - 8% of those living in the BMUA and the Urban East spent one fifth or more of their income on travel costs. This rose to 12 % in the Urban West, 17 % in the Rural East and 22 % in the Rural West.

  • When looking at the five regions, the Rural East consistently had the highest income falling into the four income categories stated within the report, whilst the Urban West consistently had the lowest.

NOTES FOR EDITORS:

  1. This survey collects data on income levels, resources and financial circumstances of individuals and households for the period from April 2002 to March 2003, and was introduced for Northern Ireland in 2002/03.

  2. Other government social surveys, such as the Family Expenditure Survey (FES), also collect this data, but the FRS provides much more detailed information, and brings some topics together in one survey for the first time.

  3. The Urban Rural classification used was that published by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency, today, (10 February 2005).

  4. The report is available on the website: www.dsdni.gov.uk/statistics-research/introduction.asp

  5. For further information contact Dr Chris Morris on (028) 90522280 or Aisling McDermott on (028) 90528408.

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