Key Statistics for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney May 2010 This paper provides key statistics under a number of topic headings for the National Assembly for Wales constituency of Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney. This is one of a series of Members’ Research Service profiles for the National Assembly for Wales’ constituencies and electoral regions in Wales. These profiles replace those published in 2007. The National Assembly for Wales is the democratically elected body that represents the interests of Wales and its people, makes laws for Wales and holds the Welsh Government to account. The Members’ Research Service is part of the National Assembly for Wales. We provide confidential and impartial research support to the Assembly’s scrutiny and legislation committees, and to all 60 individual Assembly Members and their staff. Members’ Research Service briefings are compiled for the benefit of Assembly Members and their support staff. Authors are available to discuss the contents of these papers with Members and their staff but cannot advise members of the general public. We welcome comments on our briefings; please post or email to the addresses below. An electronic version of this paper can be found on the National Assembly’s website at: www.assemblywales.org/bus-assembly-publications-research.htm Further hard copies of this paper can be obtained from: Members’ Research Service National Assembly for Wales Cardiff Bay CF99 1NA Email: [email protected] © National Assembly for Wales Commission Copyright 2010 The text of this document may be reproduced free of charge in any format or medium providing that it is reproduced accurately and not used in a misleading or derogatory context. The material must be acknowledged as copyright of the National Assembly for Wales Commission and the title of the document specified. Enquiry no: 09 / 4088 Key Statistics for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney May 2010 Rachel Dolman Paper Number: 10 / 035 Summary This profile provides a statistical overview of Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney. Detailed statistics are presented in sections one to six of the paper. Summary of results mid 2007 population estimates show that around 71,700 people live in Merthyr Tydfil & Rhymney. With 442 people per square kilometre the area is more densely populated than Wales as a whole; a similar share of the population in the area (20 per cent) as in Wales (21 per cent) is of retirement age; the 2008 Annual Population Survey estimated 16 per cent of people aged 3 or more can speak Welsh, compared with 27 per cent across Wales; turn-out for the constituency ballot in the 2007 National Assembly for Wales elections was 38.9 per cent. This was below that for Wales (43.5 per cent). The winning party was Labour; in February 2010, around 7.4 per cent of the working age population in Merthyr Tydfil & Rhymney were claiming Jobseeker's Allowance. The equivalent figure for Wales was 4.6 per cent. In 2008, around 67 per cent of working age adults were in employment compared with 71 per cent in Wales; 2006-08 data show the average gross weekly earnings for those working in Merthyr Tydfil & Rhymney was around £441. The equivalent figure for Wales was £470; in 2007, an estimated 22 per cent of working age adults in Merthyr Tydfil & Rhymney had no qualifications, this compares with 15 per cent in Wales; Welsh Health Survey results for 2003-07 showed that, around 30 per cent of adults in Merthyr Tydfil & Rhymney reported that they currently smoke and 40 per cent reported drinking more than the daily guidelines on at least one day in the past week. The equivalent figures for Wales were 26 per cent and 36 per cent respectively; and the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation 2008 ranks specific small areas in Wales in terms of deprivation. In Merthyr Tydfil & Rhymney, 32 per cent of areas fall in the 10% most deprived areas in Wales and overall the majority of its areas are more deprived than the Wales average. Contents Introduction ..............................................................................................................................................1 About the data ..................................................................................................1 Map of Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney............................................................................................2 1. Population statistics ...................................................................................................................3 2. Economic and labour market statistics.............................................................................4 3. Education statistics .....................................................................................................................5 4. Health, housing and transport statistics..........................................................................6 5. Deprivation statistics .................................................................................................................7 Child Index .......................................................................................................7 6. Comparisons with earlier years ............................................................................................9 Qualifications of 15 year olds and Jobseeker’s Allowance..................................9 7. Sources and notes.....................................................................................................................10 Sources for further information .......................................................................10 Links to further information ............................................................................10 Notes and definitions ......................................................................................11 Key Statistics for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney Introduction This paper presents statistics for the National Assembly for Wales constituency area of Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney. It is part of a series of profiles for the Assembly constituencies and electoral regions in Wales. These profiles are based on the constituencies and electoral regions introduced for the Assembly elections in 2007, and replace the profiles published by the Member’s Research Service in March 2007. A separate profile has been produced for each constituency. Statistics for the five electoral regions have been brought together in a single paper. About the data The tables in this paper show statistics for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney along with comparable figures for the electoral region it is part of (South Wales East1) and for Wales as a whole. The information is drawn from a number of different sources. Therefore, not all information presented in the profile relates to the same time period. The time periods are shown in the tables, and details on the data sources and definitions used are provided in section 7 (Sources and notes). Results presented in this profile should not be compared with those in the 2007 profile because, although the indicators may appear to be the same, a number of the data sources and definitions used have changed. Since electoral geographies do not form a standard statistical geography, and the areas covered are small, the availability of robust data is limited. Therefore, it is not possible to include statistics on all topics of interest, for example, child poverty, those not in employment, education or training (NEETs), and social services. For the same reason, these profiles do not contain detailed commentary and charts showing trends. Many of the results are taken from surveys. Therefore, the results shown are estimates of the true value and will be subject to sampling error. Because of the small numbers of survey respondents in each constituency, many of the estimates are not robust enough to say whether the results for the constituency are statistically different from that of Wales as a whole. Due to robustness, some figures in the tables are rounded to whole numbers rather than to 1 decimal place. An electronic version of this paper is available on the Members’ Research Service pages of the National Assembly for Wales’ website. 1 The electoral region of South Wales East contains the following constituencies: Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Islwyn, Merthyr Tydfil & Rhymney, Monmouth, Newport East, Newport West and Torfaen. 1 Map of Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney 2 1. Population statistics Merthyr Tydfil & South Wales Letter refers to sources and notes Rhymney East Wales Units Population, mid-2007: a Total population 71.7 616.1 2,980.0 Number (thousands) a Change in population, 2001-2007 -0.8 1.3 2.6 Per cent b Area 162 1,662 20,742 Square kilometres b Population density 442 371 144 Numb er per s q km a Age and sex profile, mid-2007: Male 48.7 48.8 48.8 Per cent Female 51.3 51.2 51.2 Per cent Aged 0-15 19.7 19.7 18.7 Per cent cWorking age 60.7 60.2 60.3 Per cent c Retirement age 19.6 20.1 21.0 Per cent d Population groups, 2001: Single (never married) 28.7 26.5 28.0 Per cent of those aged 16+ e Living in a communal establishment 0.6 1.0 1.5 Per cent f Non-White Et hnic Group 0.9 1.8 2.1 Per cent gMigrant 8.5 9.6 11.2 Per cent d Place of birth, 2001: Wales 92.5 83.7 75.4 Per cent Other UK 6.2 13.8 21.4 Per cent h Elsewhere in EU 0.5 1.0 1.3 Per cent hNon-EU 0.8 1.5 1.9 Per cent i Can speak Welsh, 2008 15.9 18.8 26.5 Per cent of those aged 3+ j 2007 Assembly Election results Winning party Labour . Share of the vote by winning party 37.0 . Per cent of valid votes cast Turnout 38.9 41.5 43.5 Valid votes as