Research and analysis

Guidance for people taking part in the European Social Fund cohort study

Published 30 July 2015

Applies to England

© Crown copyright 2015

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/european-social-fund-esf-cohort-study-2012-to-2014/information-for-respondents

This publication provides guidance for people who have agreed to take part in the European Social Fund (ESF) cohort study 2012. It provides:

  • information about how data gathered by the study will be used
  • assurances that any information provided during the survey will be treated as confidential and anonymised
  • guidance on how to withdraw permission for any information that you provide in the survey to be linked with DWP administrative data

How will the survey information be used?

Information collected in the survey will be kept confidentially and securely by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). In order to make the information we collect more useful, we would like your permission to link our administrative records to your survey answers. We can assure you that:

  • if we link survey data to our administrative records, all linked data will be anonymised
  • the information will only be used for research and statistical purposes
  • the information will be kept confidential
  • the information will not be used to work out whether anyone is claiming benefits or tax credits they should not be
  • any current or future claims for benefits or tax credits will not be affected
  • you can withdraw your permission at any time

DWP would like to link information from the survey with its administrative records to look at any changes in your employment status following your participation in the work-related training. This will enable us to look at how attending training such as this affects the type of work that people go on to do. The information will only be used for research purposes. DWP will keep this information confidential and you will not be identified by any further research.

What if I change my mind?

If you give your permission for DWP to link information from the survey with its administrative records, we will send you a letter detailing what you have agreed to which will include a slip for you to return if you change your mind. You can withdraw your permission to link these records at any time.

What will happen if I do not give permission?

Even if you don’t want to give permission for DWP to link information from the survey with its administrative records we would still like you to take part in the study. Saying that you do not give permission will have no effect on any benefits you are entitled to receive or any future participation in work-related training schemes.

What if I gave permission and have now changed my mind?

You can withdraw your permission at any time by returning the slip in the letter you received, or by writing to:

Skills for Jobs Survey
IFF Research
Chart House
16 Chart Street
London
N1 6DD

If you have any questions about how information from this study will be used please call us on 08000 542376 or email ESF2012@iffresearch.com.

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