Department for Work and Pensions

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is responsible for welfare and pension policy and is a key player in tackling child poverty.

The Department is a major commissioner of external social science research. All the research which is carried out flows directly from the policy agenda; Social Science Research is a key element, alongside other analytical activities, in providing the evidence base needed to inform departmental strategy, policymaking and delivery. The overall analytical activity which feeds into policy is provided by: administrative statistics provided by the Information Centre; regular surveys, usually undertaken by the Office for National Statistics; economic and statistical analysis, modelling and forecasting undertaken by in-house analysts; operational research focussed on business systems and operations; and projects that are commissioned from external organisations, and those undertaken by in-house analysts.

The UK Data Service acquires microdata from surveys sponsored by DWP including:

  • Family Resources Survey, 2005-
  • Households Below Average Income, 1994-
  • Families and Children Study, 1999-2008
  • Family Resources Survey, 1993-
  • Workplace Employee Relations Survey, 1980-
  • Labour Disputes in the UK, 1966-
  • DSS/PSI Programme of Research into Low-Income Families, 1991-2001
  • Family Expenditure Survey, 1961-2001
  • New Earnings Survey, 1970-1982
  • Labour Force Survey, 1975-1991