Survey Reviews
Summary reviews are undertaken each year for our regular surveys. These consist of:
- Establishing the continuing need for the survey;
- Reviewing the questionnaire to be used; and
- Updating the distribution list of businesses to be approached.
Full reviews of annual surveys are undertaken every 5 years. These are more detailed than the summary reviews.
In 2012, the Sawmill Survey (detailed and short questionnaires) was reviewed. The findings and action plan can be found in this report.
There is a parallel process for sources, methodology and outputs reviews.
Survey Control
The Forestry Commission (including its agencies Forest Research, Forest Enterprise England and Forest Enterprise Scotland) follows survey control procedures, which provide a mechanism for controlling the burden of surveys on businesses and local authorities. Application of these procedures in the FC is described in a guidance note.
The Survey Control Liaison Officer prepares annual reports (previously called Compliance and Quality Improvement Plans), which report on statistical survey activity in the latest financial year and set out plans for future statistical surveys, in the coming year and outline plans for the following two years.
The latest annual plans are available here. Separate annual plans are compiled for England, Scotland and Wales. An Annex to each plan brings together the estimated compliance costs for FC surveys in all three countries, giving Great Britain totals. From 2012, the Annex has been expanded to include Northern Ireland (for surveys run across the UK).
2012 Scotland Wales UK Annex (The England report in 2012 was included as part of the Defra report).
2011 Scotland Wales GB Annex (The England report in 2011 was included as part of the Defra report).
2010 England Scotland Wales GB Annex
2009 England Scotland Wales GB Annex
2008 England Scotland Wales GB Annex
2007 England Scotland Wales GB Annex
2006 England Scotland Wales GB Annex
Copies of the questionnaires sent by the Forestry Commission to businesses can be by following the links below:
- Private Sector Softwood Removals Survey
- Sawmill Survey
- Survey of Round Fencing Manufacturers
- Survey of UK Pellet & Briquette Production