Source · Select Committees · Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
Recommendation 17
17
Accepted
Paragraph: 76
Government analysis function vision for evidence-based policymaking is highly commendable.
Conclusion
The vision of the government analysis function - to deliver better outcomes for the public by providing the best analysis to inform decision-making - is a commendable one. In an age in which Ministers are required to respond to complex policy challenges - whether climate change, cost-of-living challenges, or the performance of the National Health Service - it is surely right that we equip them to do so by making available the best possible evidence.
Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation, highlighting its ongoing annual survey by the Responsible Technology Adoption Unit, which tracks public opinions on data-driven technology to support policymakers. It also commits to keeping the committee updated on work by the UK Statistics Authority, ONS, and OSR on their respective recommendations.
Paragraph Reference:
76
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
. The Government accepts the Committee’s recommendation. Since 2021, the Responsible Technology Adoption Unit (formerly the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation) within the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has conducted a survey to track public opinions towards data-driven technology and artificial intelligence. The annual survey, the fourth wave of which is due to be published in December 2024, provides insight into where citizens see the greatest value in data use, where they see the greatest risks, levels of trust in institutions to use data, and preferences for data sharing. Evidence from the tracker survey, alongside other qualitative and quantitative research conducted by the Responsible Technology Adoption Unit, supports policymakers to use data in a way that aligns with public values. Recommendations for the United Kingdom Statistics Authority The remaining recommendations (2, 4, 5, 6, 9, 11 and 15) are for the United Kingdom Statistics Authority (UKSA) to answer. We have confirmation that the UKSA has addressed each of those recommendations in their response to the Public Accounts and Constitutional Affairs Committee’s report. Conclusion The Government appreciates the recommendations raised in the Committee’s report and thanks the Committee for their time. The Government wishes to assure the Committee that it remains committed to better use and increased sharing of data across government and is reinvigorating the design of the digital centre for the government to deliver on this commitment. The Government will also continue to engage with the UK Statistics Authority on the collection and use of data to enable the effective and efficient provision of public services. As part of this engagement, HM Treasury will consider all UKSA funding arrangements as part of Spending Review 2025 and HMT officials are working closely with UKSA to review likely funding requirements as part of this. Appendix 2: UKSA, ONS and OSR response UKSA response Now that the Committee has been reconstituted, I write to provide a response from the UK Statistics Authority to your predecessors’ report on ‘Transforming the UK’s Evidence Base’, published shortly before the General Election was called. On behalf of the Authority, I would like to express my thanks to them and their supporting staff for launching this timely inquiry and for the report and recommendations. This report comes at an important time for the official statistical system, with the Authority due to convene the first ‘Statistical Assembly’ and prepare its next strategy for the statistical system, due to be published in July 2025. In the coming months the Authority will also be making a recommendation to government on the future of population and migration statistics in England and Wales, based on advice from the National Statistician. In sending this response, I would also like to highlight to the Committee our response1 to Professor Denise Lievesley’s Independent Review of the Authority,2 which raised many similar issues and themes as the Committee’s report. Below, I broadly address the Authority view of the key points from each section of the Committee’s report and respond to recommendation 5 in more detail. Appended to this, you will also find the individual responses of Professor Sir Ian Diamond, National Statistician and Ed Humpherson, Director General for Regulation on behalf of the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR) respectively, addressing their specific recommendations. 1 Authority response to the Independent Review of the UK Statistics Authority – UK Statistics Authority 2 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-review-of-the-uk-statistics- authority-uksa-2023 The Authority welcomes the Committee’s engagement on the future of the UK’s statistical system and the opportunities presented by your recommendations. We will continue to keep you updated on our work and progress made towards the recommendations aimed at the Authority, the ONS and OSR respectively. Delivering evidence for the public good