Data Transparency and Accountability: Covid 19
Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
Closed
Inquiry
The Covid 19 pandemic has highlighted how important data is to Government for decision making, and the significance of data transparency for the public and Parliament in holding Government to account. This inquiry was focused on decision making and transparency in response to Covid 19, using this as a case …
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19
Recommendations
16
Conclusions
1
Report
6
Oral sessions
27
Letters
6
Events
Activity timeline 35 events
6 Jul
2021
2021
25 May
2021
2021
24 Mar
2021
2021
24 Mar
2021
2021
19 Mar
2021
2021
15 Mar
2021
2021
2 Mar
2021
2021
2 Mar
2021
2021
25 Feb
2021
2021
23 Feb
2021
2021
9 Feb
2021
2021
9 Feb
2021
2021
Oral evidence sessions 6 sessions
4 Feb 2021
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Data transparency and accountability: Covid 19
Clara Swinson · Department for Health and Social Care
Helen Whately MP
James Bowler CB · HM Treasury
Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt MP · Cabinet Office
19 Jan 2021
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Data Transparency and Accountability: Covid 19
Dr David Halpern
Dr Richard Fletcher · Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism
Ed Conway
Professor Steve Reicher
Richard Earley
16 Dec 2020
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Data transparency and accountability: Covid 19
Andrew Goodacre · The British Independent Retailers Association
Bill Sweeney
Emma McClarkin · British Beer and Pub Association
Julian Bird
24 Nov 2020
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Data transparency and accountability: Covid 19
Dr Ben Worthy · Birkbeck, University of London
Prof Sir David John Spiegelhalter OBE FRS
Prof Sylvia Richardson CBE
Will Moy · Full Fact
5 Nov 2020
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Data Transparency and Accountability: Covid 19
Cllr Hugh Evans OBE
Councillor Alison Evison
Councillor Georgia Gould
Councillor Ian Hudspeth
Jeanelle de Gruchy
Joanne Roney OBE · Solace
Phil Roberts
Steven Grimmond
22 Sep 2020
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Data Transparency and Accountability: Covid 19
Ed Humpherson · UK Statistics Authority
Professor Sir Ian Diamond, National Statistician · Office for National Statistics
Reports 1 report · click to expand
| Title | HC No. | Published | Items | Response |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eighth Report - Government transparency and accountability durin… | HC 803 | 15 Mar 2021 | 35 | Responded |
Recommendations & Conclusions
7 results
6
Recommendation
Accepted
Eighth Report - Government transpa…
Going forward, Ministerial statements published on Government websites must include hyperlinks or footnotes directing to...
Going forward, Ministerial statements published on Government websites must include hyperlinks or footnotes directing to the detailed data underpinning any numbers or statistics quoted. This should apply to all areas where data is used, not just in relation to this …
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Government Response
The government states it strives to adhere to the UKSA Code of Practice and already makes data underpinning press conferences and the COVID-19 roadmap publicly available on GOV.UK with source information.
16
Recommendation
Accepted
Eighth Report - Government transpa…
The Committee expects that the Rt Hon Michael Gove will respond to this report, clearly...
The Committee expects that the Rt Hon Michael Gove will respond to this report, clearly outlining his understanding of his own responsibilities, and the ways in which he should be held to account by Parliament. The Committee will put further …
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Government Response
The government stated that the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster responded to the Chair on 24 March 2021, setting out the government’s response to the recommendation.
24
Conclusion
Accepted
Eighth Report - Government transpa…
It is deeply worrying that Ministers were unable to answer basic questions about the decision...
It is deeply worrying that Ministers were unable to answer basic questions about the decision to lift the first lockdown. Proper Parliamentary scrutiny leads to better decision-making and builds trust. While this report does not comment on whether the Government …
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Government Response
The government committed to establishing a public inquiry on COVID-19 by spring 2022 and stated that the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster would appear before the committee to answer outstanding questions.
28
Recommendation
Accepted
Eighth Report - Government transpa…
The framework for lockdown and tiering decisions has changed repeatedly throughout this pandemic.
The framework for lockdown and tiering decisions has changed repeatedly throughout this pandemic. While the Committee does not object to the inclusion of new metrics (such as vaccines), changes in the framework to date have not always appeared to reflect …
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Government Response
The government stated that the roadmap sets out four clear tests for progression, with associated data and modelling published on 5 April 2021, implying this framework addresses concerns about changing goalposts.
31
Recommendation
Accepted
Eighth Report - Government transpa…
The new roadmap must be updated to point to where data can be found under...
The new roadmap must be updated to point to where data can be found under each indicator. The roadmap indicators should be added to the dashboard, with clear links through to the data at lower local authority level underpinning each one.
Government Response
The government states it published data underpinning roadmap decisions and that the COVID-19 dashboard already provides clear links to data, including at lower local authority level.
34
Conclusion
Accepted
Eighth Report - Government transpa…
The hospitality and entertainment sectors have not seen sufficient data to underpin decisions relating to...
The hospitality and entertainment sectors have not seen sufficient data to underpin decisions relating to their industry. The evidence the Committee received was inconclusive over whether restrictions on hospitality and entertainment sectors were sensible and indeed it is not the …
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Government Response
The government states that the 'COVID-19 Response - Spring 2021' update and its data annex included detailed data and analysis, including economic and social impacts relevant to sectors, as part of the wide evidence base for easing lockdown.
35
Recommendation
Accepted
Eighth Report - Government transpa…
The Government should publish the data that underpins the restrictions that will remain in place...
The Government should publish the data that underpins the restrictions that will remain in place on businesses at each step of roadmap as a matter of urgency. Hyperlinks to this data must be included on pages explaining the restrictions for …
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Government Response
The government stated that it has already published detailed data and analysis, including economic and social impacts and SAGE papers, in the ‘COVID-19 Response - Spring 2021’ update and its annex, which underpins the roadmap decisions.
Correspondence 27 letters
6 Jul 2021
Correspondence with Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Chancellor of the Dutchy of Lancaster on further clarification following the Government’s response to the Committee's 8th Report of Session 2019-21: “Government transparency and accountability during COVID-19: The data underpinning decisions”, dated between 15.6-6.7.21
Parliament page
24 Mar 2021
To committee
Letter from Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on the Committee's Eighth Report, Data Transparency and Accountability during COVID-19, dated 24.03.21
Parliament page
24 Mar 2021
To committee
Letter from Rt Hon Matt Hancock MP, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the Committee's Eighth Report, Data Transparency and Accountability during COVID-19, dated 24.03.21
Parliament page
19 Mar 2021
From committee
Letter to Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster requesting an early response to PACAC's 8th Report, dated 19.3.21
Parliament page
2 Mar 2021
To committee
Letter from Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt MP, Paymaster General on data transparency and accountability Covid-19 - follow-up written evidence after 4.2.21 oral evidence session, dated 24.2.21
Parliament page
2 Mar 2021
From committee
Letter to Chloe Smith MP, Minister of State for the Constitution and Devolution on May 2021 Elections and Covid-19, dated 25.2.21
Parliament page
25 Feb 2021
From committee
Letter to Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office on Covid vaccine passports, dated 24.2.21
Parliament page
23 Feb 2021
To committee
Letter from Helen Whately MP, Minister of State for Care on data transparency and accountability Covid-19, dated 12.2.21
Parliament page
9 Feb 2021
To committee
Letter from Sir David Norgrove, Chair of the UK Statistics Authority to Chair, dated 9.2.21 (Covid-19 data)
Parliament page
9 Feb 2021
To committee
Letter from Professor Sir Ian Diamond, National Statistician to Chair, dated 9.2.21 (Covid-19 data)
Parliament page
5 Feb 2021
From committee
Letter to Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office and Rt Hon Matt Hancock MP, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on data transparency and accountability in relation to the Covid- 19 pandemic, dated 5.2.21
Parliament page
2 Feb 2021
To committee
Letter from Ed Humpherson, Director General for Regulation, UK Statistics Authority on Covid-19 vaccination statistics, dated 21.1.21
Parliament page
2 Feb 2021
To committee
Letter from James Bowler, Permanent Secretary, Covid Taskforce on Cabinet Office Covid Taskforce, dated 28.1.21
Parliament page
2 Feb 2021
Letter Nadhim Zahawi MP, Minister for Covid Vaccine Deployment on Covid-19 vaccination statistics, dated 27.1.21
Parliament page
12 Jan 2021
From committee
Letter to the Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on Covid-19 vaccination statistics, dated 12.1.21
Parliament page
12 Jan 2021
To committee
Letter from Steve Baker MP on the Government’s use of epidemiological modelling in public health policy, dated 3.11.20
Parliament page
12 Jan 2021
To committee
Letter from Andrew Goodacre, CEO of the British Independent Retailers Association on follow-up evidence after 16.12.20 oral evidence session, dated 18.12.20
Parliament page
16 Dec 2020
To committee
Letter from Professor Sylvia Richardson CBE, President-Elect of the Royal Statistical Society and Co-Chair of the RSS Covid-19 Task Force on follow-up evidence after 24.11 session, dated 8.12.20
Parliament page
15 Dec 2020
To committee
Letter from Steve Baker MP on methodological issues in epidemiological modelling, dated 4.12.20
Parliament page
10 Dec 2020
To committee
Letter from the Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Chancellor of the Dutchy of Lancaster on Covid-19 data, dated 10.12.20
Parliament page
8 Dec 2020
To committee
Letter from Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter on follow-up evidence after 24.11.20 oral evidence session, dated 3.12.20
Parliament page
27 Nov 2020
From committee
Letter to Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Chancellor of the Dutchy of Lancaster on Covid-19 data, dated 27.11.20
Parliament page
24 Nov 2020
To committee
Letter from Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Chancellor of the Dutchy of Lancaster on Covid-19 data and local authorities, dated 18.11.20
Parliament page
17 Nov 2020
To committee
Letter from Ed Humpherson, Director General for Regulation, UKSA on transparency and communication of Covid-19 data, dated 5.11.20
Parliament page
17 Nov 2020
To committee
Letter from Cllr Ian Hudspeth, Chair, Local Government Association Community Wellbeing Board on Covid-19 and data, dated 9.11.20
Parliament page
8 Oct 2020
To committee
Letter from Ed Humpherson, Director General for Regulation, UKSA on COVID-19 survey of regional and local testing sites, dated 2.10.20
Parliament page
6 Oct 2020
To committee
Letter from Professor Sir Ian Diamond, National Statistician on sex differences in COVID-19 antibodies, dated 30.9.20.
Parliament page