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
26
Rejected
Para 92
Require Government to publish evidence and data underpinning announced policy decisions.
Recommendation
We concur with Lord Maude’s recent recommendation that, when a policy decision is announced, the Government should publish the evidence and data underpinning that decision.
Government Response Summary
The Government rejects the recommendation to publish evidence and data underpinning policy decisions. They assert that departments determine data sharing based on considerations like public safety, commercial sensitivity, and international relations.
27
Rejected
Routinely publish evidence for major policy announcements and develop options to deliver this.
Recommendation
We recommend that, at a minimum, governments in future routinely publish the evidence and data underpinning their major policy announcements. Making this happen will not be a straightforward task, and we suggest that in the first instance leaders of the …
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Government Response Summary
The Government rejects the recommendation to routinely publish evidence and data underpinning major policy announcements. They state that such decisions lie with individual departments, who consider transparency alongside factors like public safety and commercial sensitivity.
35
Rejected
Para 113
Jointly review varying data ethics frameworks for greater consistency and accountability mechanisms across government.
Recommendation
It is now time to consolidate the excellent exploratory work that has been done on data ethics, and to embed it more formally into the collection, analysis, and communication of evidence in the UK. We recommend that the Cabinet Office’s …
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Government Response Summary
The government rejects the recommendation for a joint review of data ethics frameworks, citing existing close collaboration and the need for flexibility over consistency. They plan to update the CDDO data ethics framework by the end of 2025 and assess the scope of work to consolidate cross-government guidance.
Conclusions (1)
1
Conclusion
Rejected
Para 23
There is much to be proud of across the UK’s public data-landscape. The independence of its statisticians from the government of the day, the innovative work being undertaken by a skilled researcher community, and our unique regulatory framework all received praise from our witnesses.
Government Response Summary
The government rejects a specific 'recommended programme structure' for data sharing, instead committing to its own comprehensive approach including reinvigorating DSIT's digital centre and creating a National Data Library.