CIMES - UK

Access to microdata for scientific purposes 

in European countries

Access to microdata for scientific purposes in the United Kingdom

flag of the united kingdom

Contact

Name of the microdata access service

Office for National Statistics - ONS

Postal address

Office for National Statistics
Government Buildings
Cardiff Road
Newport
South Wales
NP10 8XG (United Kingdom)

Email

General information:  sharedcustomercontactcentre@ons.gov.uk 
Access to data team:  srs.customer.support@ons.gov.uk 

Website

http://www.ons.gov.uk

Access conditions

General conditions

Data can be accessed for research, teaching and analysis purposes.

Conditions for non-resident researchers

Researchers need to be located in the UK to be able to obtain access to microdata.

Conditions for students

Same as for confirmed researchers, if working under the supervision of a tutor.

Legal framework

Digital Economy Act 2017.

Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007.

Data Protection Act 2018.

Freedom of Information Act 2000.

How much does it cost?

Access is free of charge. There is a fee only for commissioned tables, where they are requested.

How long does it take to obtain data?

Public and scientific use files: access is immediate.

Secure use data (via Accredited Researcher status): about 3 months.

Information on access

All details on accessing data within the Secure Research Service: https://www.ons.gov.uk/aboutus/whatwedo/statistics/requestingstatistics/secureresearchservice 

At UK Data Service, general information on data use: http://ukdataservice.ac.uk/use-data.aspx

At UK Data Service, Secure Lab: http://ukdataservice.ac.uk/get-data/how-to-access/accesssecurelab.aspx

Other

Statistics and Registration Service Act of 2007: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2007/18/contents 

Personal Data Protection Act of 2018: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2018/12/contents 

Freedom of Information Act 2000: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/36/contents 

Types of microdata available for the United Kingdom

Public Use Files (PUF)

A growing number of files are made available from the website of ONS.

Scientific Use Files (SUF)

Highly anonymised files are available from the UK Data Service (UKDS) acting as an agent for ONS. Registration is required and the user must sign an End User Licence. The data can be used only for research, teaching, or personal educational development.

Secure Use Files (SecUF)

Available in onsite and remote secure environments from ONS (through its Secure Research Service, SRS). Users must: i) apply to become an Accredited Researcher (AR); ii) complete a project application; iii) complete a User Agreement, and iv) attend training.

Access to microdata by type of person

 

Public Use Files

Scientific Use Files

Secure Use Files

Public

Yes

Yes

With AR status

Students

Yes

Yes

With AR status

PhD students

Yes

Yes

With AR status

Researchers

Yes

Yes

With AR status

Foreign researchers

Yes

Yes

With AR status and located in UK

Modes of access by microdata type

 

Public Use Files

Scientific Use Files

Secure Use Files

Online access

Yes

Yes

Yes

For download

Yes

Yes

No

Onsite access

Yes

Yes

Yes

Remote access

Yes

Yes

Yes

Remote execution

N/A

N/A

N/A

 

Microdatasets available for the United Kingdom

Other access points in Europe

Disclaimer

The pages above provide information on microdata disseminated at the national level by the statistical institutes in the European countries and on microdata disseminated by Eurostat.  The pages describe the data and the procedures for requesting access as well as the available types of microdata files (Public Use Files, Scientific Use Files, and Secure Use Files).

This information was initially collected by CASD/GENES for the CIMES database developed for Data without Boundaries project (funded by the 7th Framework Programme, the EU's research funding programme between 2007 and 2013). CIMES stands for Centralising and Integrating Metadata from European Statistics. Various organisations (ADP, CED, CNRS-Réseau Quetelet, FORS, GESIS, RODA, ONS, and UL) contributed to the creation of CIMES by collecting and structuring the metadata for the period of the Data without Boundaries project (2011-2015). In 2021, Eurostat moved the CIMES database to the CROS platform to facilitate updates of countries' information. Eurostat would like to thank all CIMES developers, especially CASD, for sharing the CIMES database and for all efficient collaboration.