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Select Committee · Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee

Data Transparency and Accountability: Covid 19

Status: Closed Opened: 16 Sep 2020 Closed: 3 May 2021 19 recommendations 16 conclusions 1 report

The Covid 19 pandemic has highlighted how important data is to Government for decision making, and the significance of data transparency for the public and Parliament in holding Government to account. This inquiry was focused on decision making and transparency in response to Covid 19, using this as a case study to draw out recommendations … Show more

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Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Eighth Report - Government transparency and accountability … HC 803 15 Mar 2021 35 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

7 items
6 Recommendation Eighth Report - Government transparency… Accepted

Going forward, Ministerial statements published on Government websites must include hyperlinks or footnotes directing to...

Going forward, Ministerial statements published on Government websites must include hyperlinks or footnotes directing to the detailed data underpinning any numbers or statistics quoted. This should apply to all areas where data is used, not just in relation to this pandemic. Read more

Government response AI summary
The government states it strives to adhere to the UKSA Code of Practice and already makes data underpinning press conferences and the COVID-19 roadmap publicly available on GOV.UK with source information.
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16 Recommendation Eighth Report - Government transparency… Accepted

The Committee expects that the Rt Hon Michael Gove will respond to this report, clearly...

The Committee expects that the Rt Hon Michael Gove will respond to this report, clearly outlining his understanding of his own responsibilities, and the ways in which he should be held to account by Parliament. The Committee will put further questions to him at his next appearance in front of … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government stated that the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster responded to the Chair on 24 March 2021, setting out the government’s response to the recommendation.
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24 Conclusion Eighth Report - Government transparency… Accepted

It is deeply worrying that Ministers were unable to answer basic questions about the decision...

It is deeply worrying that Ministers were unable to answer basic questions about the decision to lift the first lockdown. Proper Parliamentary scrutiny leads to better decision-making and builds trust. While this report does not comment on whether the Government made the right decision, the Committee expects Ministers to be … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government committed to establishing a public inquiry on COVID-19 by spring 2022 and stated that the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster would appear before the committee to answer outstanding questions.
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28 Recommendation Eighth Report - Government transparency… Accepted

The framework for lockdown and tiering decisions has changed repeatedly throughout this pandemic.

The framework for lockdown and tiering decisions has changed repeatedly throughout this pandemic. While the Committee does not object to the inclusion of new metrics (such as vaccines), changes in the framework to date have not always appeared to reflect new information. This has amounted to a moving of the … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government stated that the roadmap sets out four clear tests for progression, with associated data and modelling published on 5 April 2021, implying this framework addresses concerns about changing goalposts.
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31 Recommendation Eighth Report - Government transparency… Accepted

The new roadmap must be updated to point to where data can be found under...

The new roadmap must be updated to point to where data can be found under each indicator. The roadmap indicators should be added to the dashboard, with clear links through to the data at lower local authority level underpinning each one.

Government response AI summary
The government states it published data underpinning roadmap decisions and that the COVID-19 dashboard already provides clear links to data, including at lower local authority level.
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34 Conclusion Eighth Report - Government transparency… Accepted

The hospitality and entertainment sectors have not seen sufficient data to underpin decisions relating to...

The hospitality and entertainment sectors have not seen sufficient data to underpin decisions relating to their industry. The evidence the Committee received was inconclusive over whether restrictions on hospitality and entertainment sectors were sensible and indeed it is not the purpose of this report to come to a judgement on … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government states that the 'COVID-19 Response - Spring 2021' update and its data annex included detailed data and analysis, including economic and social impacts relevant to sectors, as part of the wide evidence base for easing lockdown.
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35 Recommendation Eighth Report - Government transparency… Accepted

The Government should publish the data that underpins the restrictions that will remain in place...

The Government should publish the data that underpins the restrictions that will remain in place on businesses at each step of roadmap as a matter of urgency. Hyperlinks to this data must be included on pages explaining the restrictions for maximum transparency. (Paragraph 192) Government transparency and accountability during Covid … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government stated that it has already published detailed data and analysis, including economic and social impacts and SAGE papers, in the ‘COVID-19 Response - Spring 2021’ update and its annex, which underpins the roadmap decisions.
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Oral evidence sessions

6 sessions
Date Witnesses
4 Feb 2021 Clara Swinson · Department for Health and Social Care, Helen Whately MP, James Bowler CB · HM Treasury, Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt MP · Cabinet Office View ↗
19 Jan 2021 Dr David Halpern, Dr Richard Fletcher · Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, Ed Conway, Professor Steve Reicher, Richard Earley View ↗
16 Dec 2020 Andrew Goodacre · The British Independent Retailers Association, Bill Sweeney, Emma McClarkin · British Beer and Pub Association, Julian Bird View ↗
24 Nov 2020 Dr Ben Worthy · Birkbeck, University of London, Prof Sir David John Spiegelhalter OBE FRS, Prof Sylvia Richardson CBE, Will Moy · Full Fact View ↗
5 Nov 2020 Cllr Hugh Evans OBE, Councillor Alison Evison, Councillor Georgia Gould, Councillor Ian Hudspeth, Jeanelle de Gruchy, Joanne Roney OBE · Solace, Phil Roberts, Steven Grimmond View ↗
22 Sep 2020 Ed Humpherson · UK Statistics Authority, Professor Sir Ian Diamond, National Statistician · Office for National Statistics View ↗

Who gave evidence

27 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Andrew Goodacre · CEO The British Independent Retailers Association 1
Bill Sweeney — 1
Clara Swinson · Director General Department for Health and Social Care 1
Cllr Hugh Evans OBE — 1
Councillor Alison Evison — 1
Councillor Georgia Gould — 1
Councillor Ian Hudspeth — 1
Dr Ben Worthy · Senior Lecturer, Department of Politics Birkbeck, University of London 1
Dr David Halpern — 1
Dr Richard Fletcher Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism 1
Ed Conway — 1
Ed Humpherson UK Statistics Authority 1
Emma McClarkin · Chief Executive British Beer and Pub Association 1
Helen Whately MP — 1
James Bowler CB · Permanent Secretary HM Treasury 1
Jeanelle de Gruchy — 1
Joanne Roney OBE Solace 1
Julian Bird — 1
Phil Roberts — 1
Prof Sir David John Spiegelhalter OBE FRS — 1
Prof Sylvia Richardson CBE — 1
Professor Sir Ian Diamond, National Statistician · National Statistician Office for National Statistics 1
Professor Steve Reicher — 1
Richard Earley — 1
Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt MP Cabinet Office 1
Steven Grimmond — 1
Will Moy Full Fact 1

Correspondence

27 letters
DateDirectionTitle
6 Jul 2021 — Correspondence with Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Chancellor of the Dutchy of Lancast…
24 Mar 2021 To cttee Letter from Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on the Committee's Eighth Repo…
24 Mar 2021 To cttee Letter from Rt Hon Matt Hancock MP, Secretary of State for Health and Social Ca…
19 Mar 2021 From cttee Letter to Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster requesti…
2 Mar 2021 To cttee Letter from Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt MP, Paymaster General on data transparency an…
2 Mar 2021 From cttee Letter to Chloe Smith MP, Minister of State for the Constitution and Devolution…
25 Feb 2021 From cttee Letter to Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Mini…
23 Feb 2021 To cttee Letter from Helen Whately MP, Minister of State for Care on data transparency a…
9 Feb 2021 To cttee Letter from Sir David Norgrove, Chair of the UK Statistics Authority to Chair, …
9 Feb 2021 To cttee Letter from Professor Sir Ian Diamond, National Statistician to Chair, dated 9.…
5 Feb 2021 From cttee Letter to Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Mini…
2 Feb 2021 To cttee Letter from Ed Humpherson, Director General for Regulation, UK Statistics Autho…
2 Feb 2021 To cttee Letter from James Bowler, Permanent Secretary, Covid Taskforce on Cabinet Offic…
2 Feb 2021 — Letter Nadhim Zahawi MP, Minister for Covid Vaccine Deployment on Covid-19 vacc…
12 Jan 2021 From cttee Letter to the Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on C…
12 Jan 2021 To cttee Letter from Steve Baker MP on the Government’s use of epidemiological modelling…
12 Jan 2021 To cttee Letter from Andrew Goodacre, CEO of the British Independent Retailers Associati…
16 Dec 2020 To cttee Letter from Professor Sylvia Richardson CBE, President-Elect of the Royal Stati…
15 Dec 2020 To cttee Letter from Steve Baker MP on methodological issues in epidemiological modellin…
10 Dec 2020 To cttee Letter from the Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Chancellor of the Dutchy of Lancaster o…