Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 26
26
When we asked the Department whether it expected to be able to get this data...
Conclusion
When we asked the Department whether it expected to be able to get this data quickly enough to be able to measure what impact the funds under its levelling-up agenda were having, the Department told us it would be able to make some progress quickly but some of it would need time to develop.76 We questioned whether there was sufficient capacity at a local level to gather and analyse useful data, the Department told us that some local authorities were already doing this but acknowledged that not all would be in that position. The Department considered that conversations with local authorities, communities and businesses about the health of their economies could provide proxy indicators in the absence of good data.77
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.