Source · Select Committees · Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
Fifth Report - Transforming the UK’s Evidence Base
Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
HC 197
Published 24 May 2024
Recommendations
6
Accepted
Para 46
Publish annual ONS information on requested datasets, rationale, and request status online.
Recommendation
Separately, the Office for National Statistics should publish information on the datasets it is seeking on an annual basis, setting out its rationale for seeking those data, and details on the status of the request - all of which should …
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Government Response Summary
The OSR accepts the recommendation in principle and will enhance its focus on data gaps in future editions of its annual 'State of the Statistical System' report. The report, last published in July 2024, is the OSR's key publication for insights on the statistical system and its challenges.
20
Accepted
Para 79
Reaffirm government commitment to analysis function and review its future funding options.
Recommendation
We recommend that Government reaffirm its commitment to the analysis function, and that HM Treasury review options for its future funding. If Government truly wishes to improve its use of analysis and deliver better outcomes for the public, it clearly …
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Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation in principle, confirming the Analysis Function Central Team will work with HM Treasury to assess options for future funding.
21
Accepted
Para 80
Mandate National Statistician to review analysis function scope and publish evaluation plans.
Recommendation
In parallel, the National Statistician should review the analysis function’s scope and standard, with a view to defining an achievable set of next-steps, and clear plans for honest evaluations of the function’s success. This review and subsequent evaluations 42 Transforming …
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Government Response Summary
The ONS accepts the recommendation for the AFCT to review the Analysis Function's scope and standard, reflecting findings in an updated strategy by Q2 2025/26. Subject to funding, the AFCT will also evaluate the impact of their work, providing updates to the Committee via a letter from the National Statistician.
25
Accepted
Para 91
Train government communications professionals on OSR guidance and update Communication Functional Standard.
Recommendation
We recommend that all government communications professionals are trained on the OSR’s Intelligent Transparency guidance, and that the Government Functional Standard for Communication be updated to make it clear that officials are expected to comply with that guidance.
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Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation, stating the GCS has incorporated Intelligent Transparency guidance into its Modern Communications Operating Model and its online Data & Insight for Communicators course, which is available to all GCS professionals, thereby implementing the recommendation.
31
Accepted
Para 102
Explore options for improving personal data transparency in official analyses and publish findings.
Recommendation
We recommend that the analysis function explore options for improving transparency around the use of personal data in official analyses, and that this work be made publicly available.
Government Response Summary
The ONS accepts the recommendation for the Analytical Function to explore options for improving transparency around personal data in official analyses. The Analytical Function Central Team commits to completing this investigative work by Q4 2025/26, subject to sufficient funding.
36
Accepted
Continue monitoring public attitudes on the Government’s use of data by the CDEI.
Recommendation
In parallel, the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation should continue its excellent work in monitoring public attitudes on the Government’s use of data. (Paragraph 114) 44 Transforming the UK’s Evidence Base
Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation, stating that the Responsible Technology Adoption Unit (formerly CDEI) already conducts an annual survey to monitor public opinions on data use, with the fourth wave due in December 2024.
Conclusions (14)
2
Conclusion
Accepted
As it stands, the UK’s public data landscape is highly fragmented. This need not be a problem (indeed the model offers several conceivable advantages) if the many actors involved in generating, analysing and communicating evidence work together effectively. Our inquiry suggests that in several areas, however, this is not yet …
Government Response Summary
The government commits to issuing further publications to enhance transparency on data acquisition and processing, and will add data in the process of being acquired to its transparency reporting, developing the optimal format with suppliers.
3
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 43
It is clear that the volume and variety of data generated within the UK has exploded in scale over recent years. While new sources of data have much to offer - not least in improving the timeliness of evidence, and allowing us to delve into issues in greater detail - …
Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation, committing to keep health data arrangements under the Digital Economy Act 2017 under review and to consider amendments to data sharing powers, with implementation by the end of 2025.
4
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 44
Despite the passage of relevant legislation in 2017, the UK has failed to bring its disparate datasets together to enrich its public evidence base. Instead, data withers in silos across countless government bodies. Witnesses to our inquiry were clear; the problems here are not legislative, and they do not result …
Government Response Summary
The ONS is continuing work to develop and improve admin-based population estimates, aiming for them to become official mid-year population estimates in 2025. The Authority also expects to publish its recommendation on the future of population and migration statistics in England and Wales in the coming months.
5
Conclusion
Accepted
It is time for Government to do what it promised to do seven years ago, and to join up the UK’s evidence base. Given that the Cabinet Office’s existing initiatives for improving data sharing are self-evidently insufficient, it should in partnership with the Office for National Statistics develop a comprehensive …
Government Response Summary
The UK Statistics Authority will establish a UK Statistics Assembly, which is set to meet for the first time on 22 January 2025, to bring together users and producers to discuss and give direction on evidence priorities. The ONS has also published its 2024-25 Strategic Business Plan outlining its approach to prioritisation.
9
Conclusion
Accepted
This Committee’s view - particularly in light of challenges around data-access - is that officials have not yet demonstrated that they can deliver the evidence users need, without a decennial census. We therefore recommend that the Office for National Statistics undertake further work on proposals for the future of migration …
Government Response Summary
The OSR accepts the Committee’s recommendation to review and publish a report on the adequacy of UK-wide comparable data, committing to publish an update in 2025 that will share more detailed views on UK comparability.
10
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 62
Currently, the UK has no framework by which to identify, and then prioritise, demands for data and evidence. In the absence of such a framework, and with an ongoing need to have regard to budget constraints, Ministers and HM Treasury wield an inordinate amount of power in deciding what evidence …
Government Response Summary
The Analytical Function Central Team (AFCT) will work with HM Treasury to assess the best option for future funding for a dedicated central AF team. Additionally, the Head of the AF will work with Chief Analysts across government to raise the Function's profile.
17
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 76
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 …
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.
18
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 77
It was not possible for us to form a robust conclusion about how well served our policy-makers are by evidence in 2024. Ironically, for a group of people dedicated to the cause of informed decision-making, analysts appear to have done little by way of evaluating the function’s success in delivering …
Government Response Summary
The ONS accepts the implicit recommendation to review the AF's scope, standard, and evaluate its impact. The AF Central Team commits to undertaking a light-touch assessment and updating the Committee on findings by Q2 2025/26, subject to funding.
22
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 88
Too frequently, Government communications exhibit a disregard for evidence. This is helpful neither to the Government, in building trust in our democracy and support for policies of the day, nor to citizens who rightly expect to be able to scrutinise the work of Ministers and officials.
Government Response Summary
The OSR accepts the recommendation to further its work on intelligent transparency, stating it has a working group to embed IT principles across government and is developing proposals for a monitoring and reporting approach.
23
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 89
Since its launch in 2022, the Office for Statistics Regulation’s Intelligent Transparency guidance has helped to unlock important evidence for Parliament, business, researchers and citizens, but there remains more to do.
Government Response Summary
The OSR accepts the conclusion and is forming a working group to promote and embed Intelligent Transparency principles. They are developing proposals for a cross-departmental monitoring and reporting approach, considering incentives and automated tools, subject to a sustainable funding model.
30
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 101
Although statisticians and researchers publish a wealth of information on which data sources they hold, and how they are used, very little information is made available about how personal data are being used for the purposes of government analysis.
Government Response Summary
The ONS accepts the recommendation and commits the AFCT to investigate options for improving transparency around the use of personal data in official analyses by Q4 2025/26, working with relevant bodies.
32
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 110
It is crucial that members of the public are involved in making decisions about how the UK chooses to use personal data in the development of its public evidence base. Traditionally, statisticians have engaged with members of the public about the use of their data in the conduct of surveys, …
Government Response Summary
The government accepts the importance of public involvement, stating that the Responsible Technology Adoption Unit already conducts an annual survey to track public opinions on data-driven technology, with the next wave due in December 2024.
33
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 111
The information that we do have about public attitudes suggest an openness to the use of data, where there are clear benefits to be gained, and where those benefits are seen to be shared equitably.
Government Response Summary
The Government accepts the conclusion, stating that the Responsible Technology Adoption Unit has been conducting an annual survey since 2021 to track public opinions on data-driven technology, which provides insights that support policymakers.
34
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 112
We have been impressed by the great range of early work conducted by organisations in and outside the public sector, to help policymakers understand what it means to use data ethically, and to establish mechanisms for applying those considerations to the every-day work of government.
Government Response Summary
The Government accepts the conclusion, explaining that the Responsible Technology Adoption Unit's annual survey, ongoing since 2021, helps policymakers understand and align data use with public values, demonstrating existing work in this area.