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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

Clear

Reports

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

Recommendations & Conclusions

5 items
10 Conclusion Eighth Report - Government transparency… Deferred

Building trust between leaders and the public is essential to the response.

Building trust between leaders and the public is essential to the response. The evidence the Committee has received, including from behavioural scientists, shows that people respond to open and honest information that is clear about the uncertainties within it. Some data has been communicated with the apparent intention of creating … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government states that a statutory public inquiry will be established in spring 2022 to look back at all aspects of COVID-19, including data transparency, and that lessons are continually being learned.
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12 Recommendation Eighth Report - Government transparency… Deferred

Throughout this inquiry, it has been unclear which Minister and Department should be held to...

Throughout this inquiry, it has been unclear which Minister and Department should be held to account for ensuring decisions are underpinned by data. Data is collected by multiple Departments and other bodies, and this Committee expects a clear point of accountability for decisions made based on data from these various … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government agrees on the importance of cross-organisational working and data, citing strengthened data sharing, central dashboards, and a forthcoming NHSX Data Strategy. However, regarding a clear point of accountability for data-driven decisions, they state they will consider a broader review only after several other …
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23 Recommendation Eighth Report - Government transparency… Deferred

The Department of Health and Social Care, with support from UKSA, should undertake an urgent...

The Department of Health and Social Care, with support from UKSA, should undertake an urgent review of health data systems in England. The review should include consideration of the role of the Department of Health and Social Care in bringing together health data from across the different health bodies. The … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government agrees on the importance of cross-organisational data sharing and highlights existing efforts, but defers a broader review of health data systems until after several future processes, including the Data Strategy, Goldacre review, and an OSR lesson learned exercise, are complete.
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25 Conclusion Eighth Report - Government transparency… Deferred

It is clear to even a casual observer that the decision to lift the first...

It is clear to even a casual observer that the decision to lift the first lockdown (and all subsequent lockdowns) must have also taken into consideration a range of factors, including health, economic and educational outcomes. It is, therefore, our judgement that such decisions can only be made by the … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government confirms an independent public inquiry will be established on a statutory basis in spring 2022 to look back and learn lessons from all aspects of COVID-19. It also mentions ongoing learning, parliamentary scrutiny, and the Chancellor agreeing to appear before PACAC.
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26 Conclusion Eighth Report - Government transparency… Deferred

Time has passed for Ministers to explain to this Committee why the first lockdown was...

Time has passed for Ministers to explain to this Committee why the first lockdown was lifted when it was. It is clear that Ministers are unable to answer that question, and we are sure that this will be picked up by a public inquiry of the kind this Committee recommended … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government confirms a statutory public inquiry will be established in spring 2022 to examine all aspects of COVID-19, including past decisions, and states it continues to learn lessons and apply them to its response.
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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…