Clear and compelling analysis is of vital importance in policy development. Defra has developed an on-line Rural Evidence Hub to provide an evidence base of high quality information and knowledge about rural England.
The Hub is composed of statistical data and published research documents, in a searchable format. Data is collected from many contributors, including the ONS for Census statistics, CRC for Access to Services data, Home Office for Crime statistics, CACI for household income data, NOMIS for Labour Force Survey (LFS) statistics, amongst others. Defra then applies a rural classification to this data and maps it to standard geographies. This data is then published on the Hub.
The amount of information on the Hub is vast. Popular subjects include:
Access to Services, Benefits, Business, Care, Crime, Demographics, Deprivation, Economic Activity, Education, Employment, Family and Household composition, Health, Income and Earnings, Qualifications, Socio-Economic Classification (Census 2001), Training, Travel and Transport.
Geographic areas include: England, Government Office Regions, Pathfinder County Councils, Counties, Local and Unitary Authorities, Lower Super Output Areas, Parliamentary Constituencies, Wards (2003).
Users can find information for specific geographic areas and/or particular statistics and the data can be viewed: In tabular form, Mapped in graphical form, Downloaded for inclusion in your own documents
Currently only registered external users have access to the Rural Evidence Hub through the GI-Gateway. These include Policy Makers and Deliverers of Rural Policy in the regions. However, as the project develops this user base will increase. If you wish to register as a user of the Hub, you can email Defra's Rural Statistics Unit
Defra also has a database of reports – downloadable as pdfs – produced on a wide range of rural research. Topics include rural housing need, economic performance of rural areas inside and outside city regions, sustainable models of community retailing, the future of services in rural England. To access the full range of reports, go to: http://www.defra.gov.uk/rural/research/default.htm