Source · Select Committees · Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
Recommendation 1
1
The Government has overseen a remarkable effort pulling together data on Covid 19 from a...
Conclusion
The Government has overseen a remarkable effort pulling together data on Covid 19 from a standing start 12 months ago. It has also made much of this data and analysis available to the public, primarily through the Covid 19 data dashboard. The Government has responded to requests for new data and improved access to evidence, including a request from this Committee to publish SAGE papers. The work of the Office for National Statistics, the Government Statistical Service, and analysts in Local Government and the NHS is commendable. (Paragraph 15) Public communication, behaviour, and trust
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The Government is committed to ensuring vital public health information is accessible to all communities across the UK. The Government has overseen a significant effort pulling together data on COVID-19, and has made much of this data and analysis available to the public, primarily through the coronavirus.gov.uk dashboard hosted by Public Health England. Digital teams across departments routinely receive training on how to produce high quality and accessible content, including those with a strong data element. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cabinet Office has brought in additional experts from ONS to lead on the data visualisation of slides for COVID-19 ministerial press briefings, which are subsequently made available to the public via publication on GOV.UK alongside comprehensive statistical notes. These experts have ensured our data visualisation meets accessibility regulations standards, where possible, and applies best practice from the Government Statistical Service. The Cabinet Office and other departments are now adopting this approach across all our digital communications. We have also worked with the BBC to establish British Sign Language interpretation at all No.10 press conferences via the BBC News Channel and iPlayer, available on all TV packages as part of Freeview as well as on our social media channels. We have reissued guidance to every government department reminding them that all communications must be fully accessible. This guidance was deposited in the House Library on 20 May 2020. COVID-19 guidance is provided in alternative formats, including Easy Read, British Sign Language and Audio.