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Select Committee · Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee

Transforming the UK’s Evidence Base

Status: Closed Opened: 14 Nov 2023 Closed: 24 May 2024 15 recommendations 21 conclusions 1 report

This inquiry is exploring how officials produce statistics and analysis, how demands for data are changing, and whether the privacy of citizens is being adequately protected as new and innovative sources become available.

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Fifth Report - Transforming the UK’s Evidence Base HC 197 24 May 2024 36 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

4 items
8 Conclusion Fifth Report - Transforming the UK’s Ev… Acknowledged

ONS ambition to deliver high-quality population statistics and new data sources supported.

We support the Office for National Statistics in its ambition to deliver high-quality and timely population statistics. It is right to be considering whether new data sources might offer opportunities to improve the UK’s evidence base, and it is also right to be engaging closely with users of that evidence …

Government response. The government accepts the recommendation and confirms it supports the principle that statistics are for the public good, as enshrined in existing legislation. No specific new actions are committed to regarding new data sources or user engagement for the census.
12 Recommendation Fifth Report - Transforming the UK’s Ev… Acknowledged

Prepare regular public OSR reports detailing data gaps across the United Kingdom.

We recommend that the OSR support this activity by preparing regular and public reports on data gaps in the UK. (Paragraph 64) Transforming the UK’s Evidence Base 41

Government response. The OSR accepts the recommendation to prepare regular and public reports on data gaps but states that this would expand its remit and require appropriate funding. It is beginning to develop proposals for a monitoring and reporting approach for intelligent …
16 Recommendation Fifth Report - Transforming the UK’s Ev… Acknowledged

Require Office for Statistics Regulation to publish report on UK-wide data adequacy by April 2025.

We recommend that the Office for Statistics Regulation review and publish a report on the adequacy of UK-wide comparable data, by themes, before April 2025. (Paragraph 68) Evidence in policymaking

Government response. The Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR) states its response has focused on developing a framework for reporting data gaps across the UK and on improving intelligent transparency. It agrees harmonisation is desirable but does not explicitly commit to publishing a …
19 Conclusion Fifth Report - Transforming the UK’s Ev… Acknowledged

Significant mismatch exists between analysis function's ambitious vision and its limited funding.

We also identified a mismatch between the ambitious vision of the analysis function, and the very limited funding made available to deliver that vision.

Government response. The ONS accepts the principle of the conclusion regarding funding for the Analysis Function (AF), recognizing its importance. The AF Central Team will work with HM Treasury to assess the best option for future funding, but no specific funding commitment …

Oral evidence sessions

5 sessions
Date Witnesses
12 Mar 2024 Baroness Neville-Rolfe DBE CMG · Cabinet Office, Professor Denise Lievesley CBE · Oxford University, Steffan Jones · Cabinet Office View ↗
6 Feb 2024 Ed Humpherson · Office for Statistics Regulation View ↗
5 Dec 2023 Gavin Freeguard · Connected by Data, John Edwards · Information Commissioner's Office, Reema Patel · Ipsos UK View ↗
9 Nov 2023 Chris Morris · Full Fact, Dr Gemma Tetlow · Institute for Government, Hetan Shah · British Academy View ↗
5 Sep 2023 Professor Sir Ian Diamond · Office for National Statistics View ↗

Correspondence

4 letters
DateDirectionTitle
12 Mar 2024 To cttee Letter from Professor Sir Ian Diamond, National Statistician, UK Statistics Aut…
9 Jan 2024 To cttee Letter from Professor Sir Ian Diamond, National Statistician on supplementary w…
19 Dec 2023 To cttee Letter from John Edwards, UK Information Commissioner on follow-up after the or…
17 Oct 2023 To cttee Letter from Professor Sir Ian Diamond, National Statistician to on follow up wr…