Select committee: Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
Conclusion 8
Eighth Report - Government transparency and accountability during Covid 19: The data underpinning decisions
Published 15 Mar 2021
Paragraph 53
Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee Data Transparency and Accountability: Covid 19 All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
When SAGE advisors speak publicly about the advice they have given to Government it has the potential to create confusion and undermine trust. This report calls for greater transparency, including on uncertainties, but there also needs to be clarity about what has underpinned Government decisions. SAGE is made transparent through the official records of discussions and advice published, and it is important that this is not framed or politicised by individual advisors. SAGE members, and experts from other bodies, can play a role in informing the public. However, as it stands, the public is not well informed about the role of SAGE advisors and might not be aware that differences of opinion are an inherent (even encouraged) element of discussion in that forum.
From: Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, Eighth Report - Government transparency and accountability during Covid 19: The data underpinning decisions (HC 803), paragraph 53, 15 March 2021
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 25 May 2021 (deadline 15 May 2021).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government responds point by point, agreeing with some aims but stating that it "does not agree that a change is necessary to the Ministerial Code" and, on several recommendations, referring to earlier letters or existing practice.
- On publishing data behind quoted statistics, it is "committed to transparency" and "will endeavour to publish all statistics and underlying data when referenced publicly", in line with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.
- It disagrees with strengthening the Ministerial Code, stating that there will be occasions where it is in the public interest to use "emerging information", and it points to the existing wording that Ministers should be "mindful" of good practice.
- On the health data review, it agrees cross-organisational working matters and will "consider the merits of conducting a broader review" once the draft Data Strategy and other work are complete. It has agreed that the Office for Statistics Regulation will carry out a lessons learned exercise "once the immediate challenges of pandemic response have passed".
- It states that the Prime Minister confirmed on 12 May a statutory public inquiry that "will begin its work in spring 2022".