The Special Licence Model for Access to More Detailed Microdata

Access to most microdata supplied by the UK Data Archive (UKDA) only requires user registration. Such data are fully anonymised and certain variables may be suppressed or aggregated to minimise disclosure risk. However, there is a research need for more detailed data, such as more precise geographic and occupation codes. To increase the range of data available for research, whilst continuing to safeguard the confidentiality pledge made to survey respondents, the Office for National Statistics (ONS), UKDA, and ESDS Government have developed a Special Licence (SL) and an associated guide to good practice. A range of more detailed ONS data are now available via this new access initiative. This paper describes the data available, discusses the SL model, and outlines the conditions for access to the more detailed data.