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Social Justice (Social and Welfare, State of the South West 2011)

10.6.1 The Index of Multiple Deprivation ( IMD) 2007 is an area-based measure of deprivation, comparing England’s 32,482 lower layer Super Output Areas (LSOAs). The IMD uses 37 statistical indicators to score and rank each LSOA for the overall index, 7 domains and 8 sub domains. The LSOA figures are also used to produce a series of local authority summaries.

10.6.2 Compared with other government regions, the South West has the third lowest level of deprivation in England. There are however, small areas of deprivation masked by the overall positive regional picture. These
pockets of hardship are distributed across the peninsula, and are seen in both rural settlements and in the major urban towns and cities.

10.6.3 Of the South West’s 3,226 LSOAs, 113 (3.5%) are among the most deprived 10% in England. Only the South East and East of England have a smaller proportion. These 113 LSOAs have a combined population of about 179,000, about 3.5% of the regional total.

Figure 10.6.1 Index of Multiple Deprivation 2007

[ Zoom ]

Index of Multiple Deprivation 2007 (Fig 10.6.1). Source: CLG.

10.6.4 According to the IMD, the most deprived LSOAs in the region are in Plymouth - part of St Peter and Waterfront ward (the 98th most deprived LSOA in England) and part of Devonport (104). Five other South West LSOAs are among the most deprived 1 per cent in the country, parts of the Bristol wards of Lawrence Hill (206), Southmead (265), Filwood (275) and Whitchurch Park (317) and part of Bournemouth's Boscombe West ward (303).

10.6.5 Bristol has 39 (15.4%) of its 252 LSOAs among the most deprived 10% in England, the largest number and proportion of LSOAs among the region’s 45 district and unitary authority areas. Plymouth has 16 of its 160 LSOAs
among the most deprived 10% and Torbay has 10 out of 89. The other 48 most deprived South West LSOAs are located in 15 different local authorities and 17 different towns and cities. All but one is classified as urban (within a settlement of 10,000 or more people), the exception being part of St. Blazey in Cornwall.

Local Authority	No. of LSOAs	Associated Towns and Cities
Bristol	39	Bristol (39)
Plymouth	16	Plymouth (16)
Torbay	10	Torquay (7), Paignton (3)
Bournemouth	9	Bournemouth (9)
Swindon	8	Swindon (8)
North Somerset	7	Weston-super-Mare (7)
Gloucester	5	Gloucester (5)
Kerrier	3	Camborne (2), Redruth (1)
Exeter	3	Exeter (3)
North Devon	2	Barnstaple (1), Ilfracombe (1)
Penwith	2	Penzance (2)
Cheltenham	2	Cheltenham (2)
Weymouth and Portland	2	Weymouth (2)
Carrick	1	Falmouth (1)
North Cornwall	1	Bodmin (1)
Restormel	1	St Blazey/Par (1)
Sedgemoor	1	Bridgwater (1)
Taunton Deane	1	Taunton (1)
TOTAL	113
Source: CLG Indices of Deprivation 2007

10.6.6 Both the 2004 and 2007 IMD use a lower level geography than was the case in the 2000 series which was based on wards. Despite this, pockets of deprivation can still be undetected. This is particularly true in rural areas where LSOAs are often quite large in size and where social exclusion is more likely to be masked by surrounding affluence.

10.6.7 The IMD domains and sub domains indicate that the type of deprivation that affects the most areas in the South West relates to geographical barriers to housing and services. 14% of South West LSOAs are among the most deprived 10% in England in this sub domain, the 2nd highest proportion of the 9 regions.

10.6.8 Numerically, deprivation relating to living environment, crime and education affects more South West LSOAs than that relating to employment, income and health. However, in all six cases, there are at least 4 other regions with a greater proportion of LSOAs affected.

Table 10.6.2 IMD 2007 - Proportion of LSOAs Within the Most Deprived 10% in England by
Region and Domain

	East Midlands	East of England	London	North East	North West	South East	South West	West Midlands	Yorks. & Humber
Index of Multiple Deprivation	7	2	10	18	20	2	4	15	17
Employment	8	3	6	30	23	2	4	13	15
Income	7	3	17	16	17	2	3	14	13
Education, Skills & Training	12	6	1	20	14	5	6	16	22
Health & Disability	8	1	4	31	28	2	3	11	14
Barriers to Housing & Services	5	8	30	2	3	7	14	9	4
Crime	13	4	15	9	15	4	6	7	18
Living Environment	3	1	20	2	14	4	8	15	16
Source: CLG Indices of Deprivation 2007

10.6.9 Six summary measures of the IMD 2007 were produced for English districts. Each summary focuses on a different aspect of multiple deprivation and none is favoured over another. Bristol and Plymouth are within the most
deprived national quartile of local authorities in all six measures, Penwith and Torbay in three, Kerrier in two and Bournemouth, North Cornwall, Restormel and West Somerset in one.

Table 10.6.3 IMD 2007 - District Summaries - South West Local Authorities within the Most
Deprived Quartile in England

Measure	SW Authorities within the most deprived 88 in England (out of 354)
Rank of Average Score	Penwith (36), Bristol (64), Torbay (71), Plymouth (76), Kerrier (86)
Rank of Average Rank	Penwith (21), North Cornwall (54), Torbay (57), Restormel (60), Kerrier (61), West Somerset (64), Bristol (68),Plymouth (84)
Rank of Extent	Penwith (53), Bristol (64), Plymouth (70)
Rank of Local Concentration	Bristol (38), Plymouth (65), Torbay (75)
Rank of Income Scale	Bristol (15), Plymouth (54)
Rank of Employment Scale	Bristol (10), Plymouth (42), Bournemouth (81)
Source: CLG Indices of Deprivation 2007 - LA Summaries

10.6.10 The statistical indicators that fed into the IMD 2007 are available on the Neighbourhood Statistics website.

10.6.11 The presence of a disability or long term illness can have significant implications for an individual’s quality of life and on their ability to participate fully in society. For example, educational attainment can be affected, as can
the ability to participate in the labour market. This in turn can impact on income levels and associated living standards. More widely, on both a physical and emotional level, an individual may feel less able to socialise with others and thus experience isolation and an increased sense of vulnerability.

There are a range of different sources of information on the extent and nature of disability and ill-health:

In the 2001 Census people were asked to say whether they had any long-term illness, health problem or disability which limited their daily activities;
the Annual Population Survey gives information about the economic activity of working age people who are disabled;
benefit statistics give information about the scale of disability and incapacity and of the main conditions.

10.6.12 Across a range of measures, the extent and nature of disability amongst the population in the South West is broadly similar to that for England as a whole. However, the South West does have the highest incidence of
disability among the four regions outside the North and Midlands.

10.6.13 Limiting Long Term Illness (LLTI) - At the time of the 2001 Census, almost 900,000 people in the South West stated that they had a long-term illness or health problem which limited their daily activities. This was about 18% of the population, a similar proportion to England as a whole, and was the 4th lowest percentage among the 9 English regions. About a third of South West households had one or more people with a LLTI, the same proportion as in England as a whole. The proportion of people with a LLTI was highest in districts in the south and west of the region.

Figure 10.6.2 Proportion of Population with a Limiting Long-Term Illness by District and Unitary
Authority (2001 Census)

[ Zoom ]

Proportion of Population with a Limiting Long-Term Illness by District and Unitary (Fig 10.6.2). Source: DWP.

10.6.14 Working Age Disabled People - According to the Annual Population Survey (Apr 2009 – Mar 2010), 600,200 working age people in the South West are disabled. This is just over 18% of the working age population, the 4th lowest proportion of the 9 English regions, but the highest in the south of England. Of these, almost 58% are economically active and 52% are employed, the third highest proportion among the English regions in both cases. The equivalent rates for non-disabled working age people in the South West are 79% and 76% respectively.

10.6.15 In the South West, Weymouth & Portland at 32%, and Cornwall and Sedgemoor, both at 23%, have the highest percentages of their working age people who are disabled. The evidence suggests that there is some degree of correlation between high levels of working age people with a disability and relatively low levels of economic activity and employment rates for this same group. However, this is not the case in all places. For example, Devon has a relatively high proportion of working age people with a disability and also has high levels of economic activity and high employment rates for this group. This may in part be due to Exeter being in Devon; one of the main urban centres in the region with greater employment opportunities than some of the more rural
localities. For more information: statistics from the Annual Population Survey are accessible via NOMIS.

10.6.16 Disability Benefit Claimants - In May 2010 over 400,000 adults and children in the South West were eligible for either the Disability Living Allowance or the Attendance Allowance. Over a fifth (22%) of people receiving these benefits were affected by arthritis, while mental health disability affected a further 14%; these were similar proportions to England as a whole. Frailty is the main disabling condition for 5% of South west benefit recipients, a higher percentage than nationally and higher than all but one other government region (the South East), and almost certainly reflects the older age profile of the region. Other disabling conditions are present among South West recipients in similar proportions to England as a whole.

Table 10.6.4 Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance recipients in the South
West by Main Disabling Condition (May 2010)

Main Disabling Condition	DLA - South West cases in payment	AA - all South West entitled cases	DLA & AA - South West	% of South West Total	% of England Total
Arthritis	36,000	55,580	91,580	22	23
Mental Health Causes	38,000	18,660	56,660	14	14
Learning Difficulty	31,300	260	31,560	8	8
Muscle / Joint / Bone Disease	17,100	11,560	28,660	7	7
Frailty	200	22,360	22,560	5	4
Back Ailments	16,900	4,610	21,510	5	6
Heart Disease	8,200	14,830	23,030	6	6
Stroke Related	8,200	11,850	20,050	5	5
Chest Disease	5,600	8,190	13,790	3	3
Blindness	5,500	7,090	12,590	3	3
Malignant Disease	5,800	3,700	9,500	2	2
Diabetes Mellitus	4,400	3,370	7,770	2	2
Multiple Sclerosis	6,900	340	7,240	2	1
Parkinsons Disease	1,600	4,330	5,930	1	1
Epilepsy	4,200	380	4,580	1	2
Deafness	3,300	990	4,290	1	1
Renal Disorders	1,100	1,020	2,120	1	1
Skin Disease	1,200	270	1,470	0	0
AIDS	300	10	310	0	0
Other	34,800	12,790	47,590	12	11
Total	230,600	182,190	412,790	100	100
Note: numbers may not sum due to rounding.
Source: DWP Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study - DWP Tabulation Tool

10.6.17 Incapacity Benefit Claimants - In May 2010 about 161,640 people in the South West claimed an incapacity benefit, some of whom also claimed disability benefits. Some 45% of these people were affected by mental and behavioural disorders, a slightly larger proportion than in England as a whole.

Table 10.6.5 Incapacity Benefit/Severe Disablement Allowance Caseload in the South West by
Reason for Incapacity (May 2010)

Reason	IB/SDA - South West Caseload	% of South West Total	% of England Total
Mental and Behavioural Disorders	72,010	45	43
Diseases of Musculoskeletal system and Connective Tissue	25,210	16	17
Diseases of the Nervous System	12,230	8	7
Diseases of the Circulatory or Respiratory System	8,500	5	7
Injury, Poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes	8,210	5	5
Diseases of the Digestive System	2,280	1	1
Other	33,200	21	21
Total	176,620	100	100
Note: numbers may not sum due to rounding
Source: DWP Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study. - DWP Tabulation Tool

10.6.18 The South West is a varied and diverse region with relatively few large centres of population. This unique geography can result in disparities in the ease with which some communities and within them, some particular groups, can access services and employment. Among a number of data series that give an insight into issues of accessibility is the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) in 2007 which identified that access to services was a particular issue for many parts of the South West.

10.6.19 The Department for Transport publishes Core Accessibility Indicators which provide information about access to services using different modes of transport. The indicators cover target population groups and most have
also been produced for an ‘‘at-risk’’ sub-group of the population, and are used by Local Authorities to inform their accessibility strategies.

10.6.20 In 2009 the data indicated that the far south west of the region plus other rural districts (Torridge, North and West Devon, South Hams, West Somerset) had a lower number of jobs accessible by either public transport or by walking than other districts. Torridge and West Devon also had the least number of secondary schools in the region accessible by public transport or walking.

10.6.21 For more information: statistics from the Department for Transport are accessible via their website: DfT link (see also, the Transport chapter, which covers region-wide accessibility and usage of public transport).

10.6.22 The Commission for Rural Communities (CRC) also regularly publish data on access to services by rural areas. This series includes information about the percentage of the rural population within particular distances of key services.

10.6.23 In 2009 the CRC data indicated that access deprivation was greater among the South West rural population than in English rural communities as a whole for 11 of the 15 services surveyed. In particular, the South West had much lower proportions of the rural population within 8km of a Job Centre and 4km of secondary schools and supermarkets than nationally.

10.6.24 Comparison of data for 2000 and 2009 is possible for nine of the services and this indicates that access deprivation has increased within the region in this period for most of them. The biggest changes are in the percentage of the South West rural population within 8km of a Job Centre (down by 19 percentage points, more than double the England decrease of 9 percentage points), within 2km of a post office (down by 4 percentage points) and within 4km of a petrol station (down 3 percentage points). However not all the changes were negative: more rural residents are now within 4km of an ATM cashpoint (up 5 percentage points) and within 4km of a supermarket (up 5 percentage
points).

Figure 10.6.3 Proportion of South West Rural Population Within Specific Distances of Key Services

[ Zoom ]

Proportion of South West Rural Population Within Specific Distances of Key Services (Fig 10.6.3). Source: CRC, 2009.

10.6.25 People living in rural areas in the South West have less access to key services than in most of the other English regions, with thirteen out of the fifteen services measured below the England percentage. This remains
broadly similar to recent years, although there have been improvements in access to hospitals in the period 2008 to 2009. The East of England and West Midlands also have similar levels of access deprivation.

Table 10.6.6 Percentage of Rural Population within Set Distances of Key Services by Region 2009

	Km	England	East Midlands	East of England	London	North East	North West	South East	South West	West Midlands	Yorks. & Humber
Banks & Building Societies	4	63	60	57	90	76	75	65	61	52	66
Cashpoints (all) (2007)	4	91	91	88	100	92	93	94	91	89	91
Cashpoints (free)	4	80	80	75	100	90	85	83	76	72	83
GP Surgeries (all sites)	4	88	89	87	100	92	88	91	85	82	89
GP Surgeries (Principal sites)	4	79	80	78	100	86	82	83	75	73	78
Job Centres	8	51	51	50	94	75	63	48	39	51	52
NHS Dentists	4	67	63	61	100	79	79	73	64	62	70
Petrol Stations	4	86	85	83	100	87	90	88	88	82	87
Post Offices	2	81	82	81	79	88	83	79	81	75	85
Primary Schools	2	87	89	87	94	91	90	87	85	81	90
Public Houses	2	92	93	90	99	91	92	95	91	89	93
Secondary Schools	4	61	63	59	70	77	73	57	54	57	67
Super-markets	4	72	76	69	100	88	80	73	66	63	73
Convenience stores	4	77	76	73	100	82	80	82	75	71	78
Hospitals	8	69	62	63	100	82	73	76	73	70	62
Yellow shading = less than the percentage for England as a whole
Source: Commission for Rural Communities - Rural Services Data

10.6.24 The 2009 CRC dataset is available at small area level and can be used for district and unitary authority level analysis. Using the figures to measuredistance from services in South West rural areas suggests that Cotswold and Kennet have the greatest degree of rural access deprivation among the region’s districts. They are within the most deprived South West areas for 11 of the services. The data suggest that Torridge, West and Mid Devon and, not surprisingly, the Isles of Scilly are the areas where difficulties of access to services are almost as prominent as the bottom two areas but also illustrates that access deprivation affects most of the region’s rural districts.

10.6.26 The CRC have published data for 2010 with a change in methodology using rural households as an improved indicator of service accessibility. Due to this change, time series comparisons at the regional and small area level are not available for this year. The 2010 data show that job centres and secondary schools continue to be the least accessible key services in the South West.

10.6.27 Rural households are those described by the government’s 2004 Rural and Urban definition as 'Hamlet and isolated dwellings', 'Village' and 'Town and fringe'. Using this area definition with Mid Year Population Estimates for 2009, nearly a third of the South West total population live in rural areas, the highest proportion of all the English regions. Nearly a fifth of the region’s population reside in villages, hamlets and isolated dwellings, again the highest
proportion compared to other regions.

10.6.28 For more information: statistics from the Commission for Rural Communities are accessible via their website: CRC. Rural and Urban definition information can be found via the ONS website: ONS. Mid Year Population Estimates are accessible via this ONS page: Population Estimates.