Postcode Reference Dataset 2009/2010
1. In 2009/10, the data collection systems, derived variables and most MI will use the existing postcode data set for calculations. Details of this data set are shown in Figure 1 below.
2. However, for the 2010 March SFR, an extract of the May 2009 Office for National Statistics (ONS) National Statistics Postcode Directory (NSPD) data will be used. Details of this data set are show in Figure 2 below.
3. For 2010/11 we will be harmonising the use of postcode files so that SFRs and MI produced by the Data Service will use data from the May 2010 ONS NSPD. The online data collection systems will continue to use the existing postcode data for validation and address lookup purposes.
4. Details of the ONS NSPD fields we use are shown in the mapping document below
Data Service ONS NSPD field mapping [PDF, 46kB]5. The 2009 ONS NSPD user guide is available below
ONS NSPD 2009 User Guide [PDF, 641kB]
6. The
ONS website has a discussion of some limitations of
using postcodes as a geographic reference.
7. The Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) are not incorporated into the ONS NSPD data, but can be matched in using the lower level Super Output Area field. Funding uplift factors are based on the 2004 version, with other MI using the most recent 2007 version. Information on IMD can be found on the
Communities and neighbourhoods website, including
guidance for using the 2007 IMD.
Figure 1. Fields in ONS NSPD data extract
| Variable Name |
Variable Label |
Field Type |
| Pst_POSTCODE |
Pst_POSTCODE Postcode |
Text (8) |
| Pst_COUNTRY |
Pst_COUNTRY Country |
Numeric |
| Pst_GOR |
Pst_GOR_Gov_Off_Region Government Office Region of Postcode |
Text (1) |
| Pst_SUB_REG_GROUP |
Pst_SUB_REG_GROUP Sub Regional Groupings |
Text (4) |
| Pst_LEA |
Pst_LEA_Loc_Educ_Auth Local Education Authority of Postcode |
Numeric |
| Pst_LEA_UK |
Pst_LEA_UKLocal Education Authority Education & Library Board |
Text (3) |
| Pst_COUNTY |
Pst_COUNTY County |
Numeric |
| Pst_LOCAL_AUTHORITY |
Pst_LOCAL_AUTHORITY Local Authority District of Postcode |
Text (4) |
| Pst_WARD |
Pst_WARD Electoral Ward Division |
Text (6) |
| Pst_CONSTITUENCY |
Pst_CONSTITUENCY Westminster Parliamentary Constituency of Postcode |
Numeric |
| Pst_LOWER_LAYER_SOA |
Pst_LOWER_LAYER_SOA Lower Layer SOA of Postcode |
Text (9) |
| Pst_MIDDLE_LAYER_SOA |
Pst_MIDDLE_LAYER_SOA Middle Layer SOA of Postcode |
Text (9) |
| Pst_NHS_SHA |
Pst_NHS_SHA Strategic Health Authority of Postcode |
Text (3) |
| Pst_STND_STAT_REG |
Pst_STND_STAT_REG Standard Statistical Region |
Numeric |
| Pst_EURO_ELEC_REG |
Pst_EURO_ELEC_REG European Electoral Region |
Numeric |
| Pst_TEC_LEC |
Pst_TEC_LEC Training and Enterprise Council Region |
Text (3) |
| Pst_TRAVEL_WORK_AREA |
Pst_TRAVEL_WORK_AREA Travel To Work Area |
Numeric |
| Pst_PRIM_CARE_AREA |
Pst_PRIM_CARE_AREA Primary Care Areas England LHBs Wales CHPs Scotland LCG Northern Ireland |
Text (5) |
| Pst_CEN_AREA_STAT |
Pst_CEN_AREA_STAT Central Area Statistic CAS Ward |
Text (6) |
| Pst_STAT_WARD |
Pst_STAT_WARD 2005 Statistical Ward England and Wales |
Text (6) |
| Pst_NATIONAL_PARK |
Pst_NATIONAL_PARK National Parks of England Wales & Scotland |
Numeric |
| Pst_URBAN_RURAL_INDIC_EW |
Pst_URBAN_RURAL_INDIC_EW Urban & Rural Indicator for England and Wales |
Numeric |
| Pst_URBAN_RURAL_INDIC_SCOT |
Pst_URBAN_RURAL_INDIC_SCOT Urban & Rural Indicator for Scotland |
Numeric |
| Pst_URBAN_RURAL_INDIC_NI |
Pst_URBAN_RURAL_INDIC_NI Urban & Rural Indicator for Northern Ireland |
Text (1) |
| Pst_SCOT_INTERMEDIATE |
Pst_SCOT_INTERMEDIATE Intermediate Zone Scotland |
Text (9) |
| Pst_EASTING |
Pst_EASTING National Grid Reference Easting of Postcode |
Numeric |
| Pst_NORTHING |
Pst_NORTHING National Grid Reference Northing of Postcode |
Numeric |
| Pst_PAF_INDIC |
Pst_PAF_INDIC Postcode Received by ONS on Royal Mail Monthly Postcode Input Derived From PAF |
Numeric |
| Pst_PQI_GRID_REF |
Pst_PQI_GRID_REF Grid Reference Positional Quality Indicator |
Numeric |
| Pst_INTRO_DATE |
Pst_INTRO_DATE Date of Introduction |
Date |
| Pst_TERMIN_DATE |
Pst_TERMIN_DATE Date of Termination |
Date |
| Pst_VERSION |
Pst_VERSION Version of this Postcode file |
Text(8) |
Page updated: 17th August 2010
