Source · Select Committees · Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
Recommendation 14
14
Deferred
Paragraph: 66
Confirm Government support for the public good principle of statistics in response to report.
Conclusion
We ask the Government to confirm, in its response to this report, that it supports the principle - enshrined in the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 - that statistics are for the public good; and that the public good includes not just assisting in the development and evaluation of policy, but also informing the public about social and economic matters.
Government Response Summary
The government response does not confirm support for the principle that statistics are for the public good, as requested. Instead, it discusses the ONS's acceptance of a recommendation to develop options for Ministers on the routine publication of evidence and data underpinning major policy announcements.
Paragraph Reference:
66
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
36. The ONS accepts the Committee’s recommendation that options be developed for Ministers on the routine publication of evidence and data underpinning major policy announcements in the future. Transparency in evidence and data underpinning policy decisions is an important matter for the AF and was discussed at an AF Board meeting last year. There is a variety of guidance already in existence in this area, including the Code of Practice for Official Statistics,17 the Analysis Function Standard18 and OSR’s guidance on Intelligent Transparency.19 37. In line with the Committee’s suggestion, the AFCT will work with the Communications Function, and other bodies, such as the Policy Profession, to consider options around the recommendation to routinely publish the evidence and data underpinning their major policy announcements. 17 https://analysisfunction.civilservice.gov.uk/policy-store/code-of-practice-for-statistics/ 18 https://analysisfunction.civilservice.gov.uk/policy-store/government-functional- standard-analysis/ 19 https://osr.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/publication/regulatory-guidance-on-intelligent- transparency/