Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 7
7
The Department does not yet know how it will measure performance on a consistent basis...
Conclusion
The Department does not yet know how it will measure performance on a consistent basis across different geographical areas and timescales. We are concerned that data availability and quality is not yet adequate to track progress against the Levelling Up missions, either at a local level or to allow comparison across the UK’s nations. For example, it is not clear how the Department will measure sub- regional productivity, as an outcome measure around living standards, since Gross Domestic Product data is not available at a local level. We welcome the steps the Department is taking to improve its data quality, but we are not convinced that there is sufficient capacity at a local level to make the data quality improvements needed there. We are also concerned that data quality improvements may not be delivered in time to allow year-on-year comparisons or to establish a baseline against which to measure progress. Recommendation: The Department should clarify how it intends to provide performance information on a consistent basis (both year on year and across different geographical areas) and how, in the absence of good quality local data, it intends to establish a baseline against which to measure progress. 8 Local economic growth 1 Design and Delivery
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
7.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Summer 2023 7.2 Although the government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation it disagrees with the conclusion on which it is based. 7.3 As mentioned in the Levelling Up White Paper’s technical annex, we have a good understanding of how we will be measuring progress for most missions on a consistent basis across geographical areas and time scales. For missions that are exploratory, such as pride in place and well-being, or where more granular and timely subnational data is needed, further work is being undertaken to develop these. 7.4 The department has established a Spatial Data Unit to drive forward the data transformation required in central government. The Unit, working together with the Office of National Statistics (ONS) and other government departments, will produce indicators, looking at alternative data sources in absence of good quality local data, address current data gaps and measure progress against the levelling up missions at local level. 7.5 The ONS have published a summary outlining their work plan over the next few years to develop a solid information base with production and dissemination of more timely, granular, and harmonised subnational statistics for regional and local decision-making. 7.6 The department also benefits from a refreshed concordat on statistics (October 2021) between the UK government and the devolved administrations. The concordat sets out how the administrations will work together to deliver an agreed suite of coherent, reliable, consistent and timely statistics about and across the UK.