Family Resources Survey 2001-02

Comparisons with other surveys

Some of the information collected by the FRS is also available in other Government surveys and comparisons of results can be a useful method of validation.

DWP and ONS have jointly investigated the reasons for the Family Resources Survey (FRS) consistently giving higher estimates, than does the Labour Force Survey (LFS), of the proportion of children in workless households. This proportion is the subject of a DWP Public Service Agreement (PSA) target and is also a key driver in relation to the DWP/HMT joint PSA target to reduce child poverty by 25% between 1998 and 2004. LFS is used to monitor the former, FRS the latter.

A report on this investigation and the recommendations can be found on the FRS website by clicking here.

Comparisons of the FRS and other surveys with the 2001 census is being undertaken to investigate the characteristics of non-respondents, to assess non-response bias and inform the grossing review. Please see the estimation methodology section for further details.

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